Opposition to Musi River Rejuvenation Is Not the Issue… It Is Against a ₹1.5 Lakh Crore Scam, Says BRS Working President KTR

BRS Working President K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) stated that they are not opposed to the rejuvenation of the Musi River, but strongly object to what he alleged as a ₹1.5 lakh crore scam being carried out under the name of the project. In protest against the government’s stance on this issue, BRS MLAs staged a walkout from the Assembly. During the session, KTR along with other BRS members questioned the government on several key aspects of the Musi project, including the preparation of the DPR, house demolitions, land acquisition and the escalation of project costs. KTR, along with Sudhir Reddy, Kaleru Venkatesh and Bandaru Laxma Reddy, raised multiple concerns regarding the project.

The leaders demanded clarity from the government on why a project initially estimated at ₹16,000 crore had been escalated to ₹1.5 lakh crore. They questioned how the Chief Minister could cite such a massive figure while presenting significantly lower estimates in the Assembly. As per the gazette, over 10,000 houses are expected to be demolished and around 3,260 acres of land will be acquired. KTR urged the government to provide clear details on the expansion of the buffer zone and asserted that BRS would not accept any actions that adversely affect people’s homes, properties, and livelihoods. He emphasized that any decisions taken without transparency would be strongly opposed.

KTR also criticized the government for failing to provide clarity on whether a Detailed Project Report (DPR) even exists, noting that even the Managing Director of the Musi River Development Corporation reportedly stated that there is no DPR. He said that instead of making presentations in five-star hotels, the government should present the project details directly to the affected people. Accusing the Congress party of having earlier turned the Musi River into a polluted drain, he alleged that the same party is now attempting large-scale corruption in the name of the project. He also raised doubts over claims of financial support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), stating that officials from the bank confirmed that no DPR had been submitted to them. KTR concluded by questioning whether the government needs to correct its information or if it is deliberately misleading the public and the Assembly.