CM Revanth: No Turning Back on Future City, Musi Projects

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Thursday asserted that the state government would go ahead with the Musi river rejuvenation project and the construction of Bharat Future City, irrespective of opposition from political rivals, declaring that both these projects would transform Hyderabad into a world-class global city. "Whatever anyone may say, we will complete the Musi rejuvenation project and build Bharat Future City," he said.

He warned that encroachments on lakes, drains and government land would not be tolerated and reiterated that the government was committed to restoring the Musi river into a landmark urban riverfront superior to even the Sabarmati and Yamuna riverfront projects. The Chief Minister was speaking after launching the Vanamahotsavam programme at Gurranguda Eco Park in Rangareddy district in the presence of ministers Konda Surekha and D. Sridhar Babu.

He planted a Nagalinga sapling under the Haritha Nidhi initiative, unveiled a robotic elephant, reviewed the Eco Park master plan presented by forest officials and laid the foundation stone for development works worth Rs 35.50 crore in the Eco Park and Rs 17.84 crore in the Gurranguda reserve forest. He also inaugurated the Hyderabad Green Metro Police initiative.

Addressing the gathering, Revanth Reddy said Hyderabad's lakes and nalas had been subjected to rampant encroachments over the years, leading to waterlogging and flooding in residential colonies. He said the government had established HYDRAA to protect public land parcels, lakes and drainage channels and to prevent citizens from suffering due to illegal occupations. Criticising Opposition parties for portraying HYDRAA as a threat, he clarified that the agency would not trouble people who had legally constructed houses on their own lands but would act firmly against encroachers.

Referring to comments by BRS leader T Harish Rao that the Future City project would be scrapped if the BRS returned to power, Revanth Reddy challenged him to first win the Siddipet Assembly seat in the next election before talking about cancelling the project.

Referring to the recovery of temple land in Vanasthalipuram and efforts to protect Gurranguda Eco Park from alleged attempts to convert it into private layouts, he said the government would not spare even 'influential encroachers'. He noted that flooding in areas around Saroornagar lake and other localities was a direct result of lake and nala encroachments and said HYDRAA had been established to curb such practices.

Revanth Reddy said the government was making every effort to prevent Hyderabad from facing the environmental and infrastructure problems witnessed in cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. He remarked that air and water pollution had severely affected Delhi, while heavy rain often crippled Mumbai and Bengaluru. To avoid a similar future for Hyderabad, the government was promoting large-scale afforestation, protecting water bodies and creating major green spaces.

The Chief Minister announced that an international-standard national park spread over 424 acres was being developed in the LB Nagar region and dedicated to the people. He also highlighted plans for a world-class integrated fruit market over 240 acres at Koheda with an estimated investment of Rs 2,400 crore. He said development had remained concentrated in only one side of Rangareddy district while areas such as LB Nagar, BN Reddy Nagar, Vanasthalipuram and Gurranguda had been neglected for years. The government, he said, was now prioritising these areas through major infrastructure and environmental projects.