HYDERABAD: Chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Saturday addressed concerns regarding the Musi rejuvenation project, stating that economic terrorists are attempting to destabilize the real estate sector and the state economy by spreading fear about demolitions by HYDRAA.
“As CM, I assure genuine realtors, builders, and those with building permissions that there is no need to worry. No legal building will be touched. Only encroachments and illegal buildings in FTL and river beds would be demolished. The realtors and builders, and people with govt permission for their properties can approach the govt offices. We will stand by them,” he said, at an event wherein senior Congress leader and former minister J Geetha Reddy was presented with the Rajiv Sadbhavana Award, at the Charminar in Old City.
Sources told TOI that realtors and developers recently expressed significant concerns to ministers about the negative impact on the real estate sector stemming from the feared demolitions related to the HYDRA initiative. They said there were no takers for lake-view flats, villas, and properties that once commanded premium prices.
To alleviate fears, CM Revanth reassured that the govt would support not only legitimate realtors and property owners but also provide comprehensive rehabilitation packages for the poor.
“There will be no pressure on landowners and those with building permissions to vacate. However, the govt will take action against those spreading misinformation about the Musi project and HYDRA,” he asserted.
He also proposed establishing a fact-finding committee or an all-party delegation to assess the legality of farmhouses owned by KTR and Harish Rao in Janwada and Azeez Nagar, respectively. “KTR, Harish Rao, and Eatala Rajender are misleading the public to protect their own interests. People should realize these leaders are using their positions to shield their own illegal constructions. No poor will be able to construct or own farmhouses. Why is KTR and Harish not staging dharna in front of their farmhouses? Why are they coming to Musi bed? This is only to protect their farmhouses constructed in violation of GO. 111 and other govt norms,” he said, adding that he would visit their farmhouses with a fact finding committee or an all-party delegation if they agree. He also criticized the leaders for allegedly discharging their washroom waste into Osmansagar and Himayatsagar reservoirs, which supply drinking water to millions in Hyderabad. “We will crush all such violators and criminals in the river beds and FTLs of the water bodies. It’s the encroachers who fear demolition, not the poor,” the CM declared.
Revanth clarified that HYDRAA had not demolished any structures in the Musi riverbed area and emphasized the distinction between HYDRAA and the Musi rejuvenation project. “People who were relocated from the riverbed to 2 BHK houses, did so voluntarily; the govt has not demolished a single brick. HYDRAA was established to manage traffic in Hyderabad, clear drains, and prevent industrial waste dumping into water bodies,” he explained, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to combat encroachments on govt land and water bodies.
