Hyderabad, Feb.23 (RAHNUMA): The Urban Development Forum (UDF) has demanded transparency and people-centric planning in the proposed revival of the Musi River, cautioning the government against evictions in the name of development. The real revival of Musi means cleaning the river, protecting the environment, and protecting the rights of the people, the Forum noted.
The forum alleged that commercialization was being prioritised over actual river cleansing. It questioned the move to remove houses within 50 metres of the river under a proposed buffer zone, asking how structures built with prior government permissions could now be termed illegal.
UDF expressed concern over reported evictions before the Detailed Project Report (DPR) was discussed in the Assembly. It also sought disclosure of Maximum Flood Level (MFL) data and the full DPR related to the Musi revival scheme.
Referring to the “Sabarmati Riverfront Development Project” in Gujarat, the forum warned against adopting a model that led to large-scale displacement of the poor.
Stressing that true revival means stopping sewage inflow and protecting both environment and residents’ rights, the forum demanded permanent solutions to prevent sewage discharge into the Musi and extensive public consultations before proceeding with development works.
