Musi Revival Requires Lost-Lasting Solution
Can the Musi be saved? The Musi Rejuvenation Plan offers hope for a cleaner future, but experts argue that the river’s revival requires more than superficial solutions.

Hyderabad: Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the founder of Hyderabad, once prayed, “Make my city full of people, as you keep the river full of fish.” Four centuries later, his wish remains only partially fulfilled. While the city thrives with life and livelihoods, the river that once nourished it remains lifeless. The Musi River, once teeming with aquatic life, has become uninhabitable for fish in most stretches, particularly as it passes through Hyderabad.
The minimum dissolved oxygen (DO) level required for fish survival is 3.0 mg per litre. Data from the Telangana Pollution Control Board, released earlier this month, reveals the grim state of the Musi river. DO levels in Hyderabad, Medchal Malkajgiri, and Shamshabad range from a critical 0.3 to 1.6 mg/l. In Rangareddy, levels slightly improve at 3.6 mg/l, barely reaching the minimum threshold. According to the ministry of environment, water is considered safe for personal use, such as bathing, if the DO level is at least 5 mg/l.
Low DO levels indicate the presence of faecal matter in the water, which also releases harmful anaerobic gases — contributing to the foul stench that often lingers around the river and other water bodies in Hyderabad. "It's a smell the city knows all too well, frequently discussed but rarely addressed," said an expert.
The stench is just one aspect of the problem. The river is now a mix of untreated sewage, industrial effluents, pharmaceutical waste, and toxic sediment, creating hazardous conditions. Communities that rely on the Musi for their livelihood are at constant risk of severe health issues. The river’s future, along with the lives dependent on it, hangs in a delicate balance.
Can the Musi be saved? The Musi Rejuvenation Plan offers hope for a cleaner future, but experts argue that the river’s revival requires more than superficial solutions.
For Dr Shilpa Krishna, a researcher from the University of Hyderabad, the river’s pollution violates the fundamental right to life as guaranteed by the constitution of India in Article 21.
“Musi is the river around which Hyderabad was founded — it’s badly polluted, but the real question is: can we truly clean it? If we do, can we stop the pollution from returning? The key is to reduce pollutants at the source. Otherwise, cleaning efforts will be wasted,” she said.
"The most-affected are those in low-lying areas — often the poorest communities. Farmers and fishermen are also hit hard. Fishing is no longer possible in the Musi because there are no fish. Groundwater around the river is also contaminated. The river emits anaerobic gases, contributing to the unbearable stench that residents live with.”
She raises a fundamental question about the right to life — when living beings are left in a state of neglect, their very existence is called into question. It is crucial to view the river as a living entity in itself.
Subba Rao, an environmental expert, emphasises the importance of effective governance to preserve the river. "Musi is the only river that originates and ends in our state. We have complete control over it, yet we lack the coordination between departments needed to revive and maintain it. River systems directly impact agriculture, so we need to employ the right technology to clean it. Bioengineering and bioremediation should be prioritised," he said.
Often the communities around the river are blamed for the pollution in it. However, Rao said, "There are no community indicators for pollution in the Musi. The main pollutants come from the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, along with commercial wastewater and untreated domestic sewage. While industries have Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) and municipal bodies have Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), both systems lack effective monitoring. How often do they publish monitoring results? STPs and CETPs cannot remove nitrates and phosphates from the water, which contribute to its degradation," he explained.
Rao refers to a 2017 report that he submitted to the Telangana State Pollution Control Board (TSPCB), which identified foam and froth in the river caused by high levels of surfactants (2-5%, well above the permissible 1%) and filamentous bacteria, indicating eutrophication (overgrowth of algae leading to disruption in the ecological balance of the river). The report, titled, 'Urban Lakes Restoration and Management Proposed Action Plan', was submitted by the Centre for Climate Change, Engineering Staff College of India, where Rao served as an advisor.
While inquiries about river pollution made with the Musi Rejuvenation and Development Corporation (MRDCL) are promptly directed to the TSPCB and the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB), experts propose natural methods for cleaning the river. Rao suggests introducing fish species like eel, which helps purify water and planting Chrysopogon zizanioides (vetiver grass), which can reduce bacteria, neutralise odours, and thrive in the harsh conditions of the Musi.
Biological and ecological interventions such as bioremediation or bioengineering complement river rejuvenation efforts. "These methods don’t require major construction projects or changes to the river's course. They use natural systems, introducing enzymes and low-energy, climate-friendly solutions," Rao explained.
Rao also cited the work of Prof. Sara Parwin Banu from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, who has developed a cost-effective floating structure for vetiver grass. Thanks to its extensive root system, this grass absorbs foul odours and serves as an efficient pollutant scavenger in wastewater. Her experiments have shown improvements in water quality by reducing dissolved oxygen demand and eliminating heavy metals. Rao also mentioned the potential of water hyacinths as aquatic plants capable of removing heavy metals from water.
The path to cleaning the Musi may require a shift in approach — from capital-intensive, large-scale projects to natural, sustainable solutions. The future of the river — and the people who depend on it — may depend on the adoption of these innovative methods.