ADB to offer loan for Musi Rejuvenation Project in Hyderabad

Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide a loan of Rs 4,000 crore for the Musi Rejuvenation Project in Hyderabad and work on the project will begin once the final estimations of the project are completed by the end of the ongoing financial year.

Announcing this in the Legislative Assembly, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy said the MLAs will be given a PowerPoint presentation after the detailed project report (DPR) gets finalised.

Advertisement

The chief minister said that the Centre has given its approval for the development of the Gandhi Sarovar under the Musi project. According to Reddy, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has agreed to give defence land for the construction of the Gandhi Sarovar.

The ashes of the Father of the Nation were immersed at the Bapu Ghat, which is at the confluence of the Esa and Musi rivers. Under the Musi Rejuvenation Project, the Bapu Ghat will also be renovated and a statue of Mahatma Gandhi will be put up.

Reddy said a permanent solution will be provided to the pollution of the river Musi by diverting Godavari waters. “We are planning to utilise 15 TMC of the 20 TMC for meeting the drinking water needs of the city and another 5 TMC to maintain the continuous flow of clean water in the river. “Government does not have a hidden agenda,” he added.

He, however, attacked the Opposition for making allegations against him. “The poison in the hearts of some people is far more dangerous than the pollution in the Musi River. Why are they spewing venom when I am explaining the details? They want to prevent the truth from reaching the people and stop any discussion. Why does it hurt them when I explain the details,” he asked.

BRS working president KT Rama Rao accused the state government of taking up the project only for large-scale real estate exploitation. He alleged that the government has been forcibly evicting poor and middle class residents from valuable lands in central Hyderabad to benefit benamis and loyalists. “For this, the chief minister has been reduced to real estate dealings,” said Rao.

Speaking in the Assembly, AIMIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi said they were not against the project but if poor people were driven out of their homes, his party would not remain silent.