Sridhar Babu, KTR face off over Musi

A heated confrontation erupted in the Telangana Legislative Assembly on Wednesday during Question Hour as BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao and Minister for Legislative Affairs D Sridhar Babu clashed over the Musi River Rejuvenation Project, exposing sharp differences between the opposition and the ruling Congress.

Leading the attack, KTR accused the government of misleading the House on the status of the Detailed Project Report (DPR). He pointed out that while earlier statements indicated the DPR would take 18 months to prepare, the government now claims it is ready within a much shorter timeframe. Demanding transparency, he urged the government to table the DPR in the Assembly, noting that even the Musi River Development Corporation had reportedly not received it.

KTR raised serious concerns over the selection of the firm entrusted with preparing the DPR, alleging that it had faced bans in multiple countries. He also questioned the financial credibility of the project, stating that there was no confirmed funding from the Asian Development Bank and no clear financial roadmap. Highlighting discrepancies in project estimates, he alleged that the cost had been inflated dramatically from earlier projections.

The BRS leader further accused the government of targeting poor families through large scale demolition drives without adequate clarity or rehabilitation plans. He cited notices issued to thousands of households and questioned inconsistencies between official statements and government records regarding the number of structures to be removed and land acquisition plans. He also criticized the government for conducting presentations in luxury venues instead of engaging directly with affected communities.

Declaring that the party was not opposed to the project itself but to the alleged mismanagement with Rs 1.5 lakh crore budget and lack of transparency, KTR announced a walkout by BRS members in protest.

Responding strongly, Minister Sridhar Babu dismissed the allegations as baseless and clarified that the DPR for Phase One had been completed after extensive technical studies and expert consultations over two years. He stated that the estimated cost for the phase stands at about Rs 7,000 crore and that 1,435 structures have been identified for removal, with proper rehabilitation measures planned for affected families. Sridhar Babu also maintained that the government is fully prepared for a detailed discussion on the Musi project and accused the opposition of raising issues without understanding the technical aspects.

He said Question Hour has time limitations and assured that the government would present all relevant details in an appropriate forum, reiterating that there is no ambiguity in the DPR or its implementation strategy. The Minister emphasized that the project would be executed in phases with clear financial planning and adherence to international standards. He reiterated the government’s commitment to restoring the Musi River into a clean and sustainable waterway, urging all parties to support the initiative in the larger interest of Hyderabad’s environment.

BRS stages walkout

Alleging corruption and unsystematic approach by the Congress government in the proposed Musi river rejuvenation project, the BRS on Wednesday staged a walkout from the Telangana Legislative Assembly.

Speaking during Question Hour, state IT and Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu said the government is expecting the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to approve the Detailed Project Report (DPR) in its next meeting. He said the state government onboarded Singapore-based engineering company Meinhardt for preparation of DPR for first phase of the project in December, 2024 and that the report was submitted in February this year.

"We sent a proposal for funding to ADB. Preliminarily, they are satisfied with the project. ADB is now evaluating the DPR. They call it approval only when they give full-fledged approval. We are expecting that the ADB's approval would come in the next board meeting," he said.

Babu said the government is working with the aim of taking up Musi rejuvenation with the help of any other organisation or in Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode if the ADB is not convinced with the DPR.

He said Meinhardt took up many projects in the country and in foreign countries. BRS Working President K T Rama Rao, however, alleged that the minister did not clarify the number of phases and the DPRs proposed for the execution of Musi project.

Saying the BRS is not opposed to cleaning the Musi River, Rao quoted an official as saying there is no DPR for the project. He announced his party's walkout in protest against the "loot of Rs 1.50 lakh crore" in the project.

Ready for drug tests, nothing to hide: KTR

BRS Working President K T Rama Rao stated that he is ready for drug tests and asserted that his party has nothing to hide, while accusing the ruling Congress of avoiding accountability on the issue.

In an informal interaction with the media in the Assembly on Wednesday, KTR reiterated his strong resignation challenge, stating that he would step down immediately if the government proves that Rs 57,000 crore in interest free loans were actually disbursed. He maintained that the government is misleading the House and said those making false claims should resign instead.

Launching a sharp attack on the Musi rejuvenation project, KTR alleged large scale irregularities, claiming that even multilateral funding agencies did not approve loans due to lack of clarity. He said the project is being used as a cover for real estate interests and land acquisition.

He also criticized the government over alleged administrative failures, selective rehabilitation policies, and notices issued to thousands of families. KTR questioned the choice of agencies, financial priorities, and transparency in implementation. Overall, he accused the Congress govt of spreading misinformation and demanded accountability.