Hyderabad: In a blistering attack on the BRS and the BJP, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Friday warned that anyone trying to derail the Musi rejuvenation project would be “crushed” under bulldozers.
Taking a pledge on Yadagirigutta Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy and Lord Shiva at Sangem village temple, the Chief Minister assured the public that the Musi rejuvenation project would proceed no matter the challenges.
Addressing a public meeting at Sangem village after a “padayatra” along the Musi in Yadadri Bhongir district on Friday, which also happens to be his 55th birthday, Revanth Reddy said the Musi project designs would be ready within the next 30 days and the Congress government will move forward swiftly to make the river’s rejuvenation a reality.
He also declared that the Congress government would take the responsibility of interlinking of rivers — Godavari, Krishna, Musa and Esa — with the Musi rejuvenation project. The Musi river originates in the Ananthagiri hills and flows into the Osmansagar and Himayatsagar reservoirs. The Musi consists of two rivulets, Esa (8 km) and Musa (13 km) which converge into the Musi river.
The Musi river joins the Krishna river at Vadapally in Nalgonda district. Revanth Reddy announced that Godavari water from Mallannasagar will be diverted to fill Osmansagar and Himayatsagar as part of the Musi rejuvenation project resulting in interlinking of four rivers.
He announced plans for another major Musi padayatra in January 2025, from Vadapally in Nalgonda district, where the Musi joins the Krishna river, to the historic Charminar in Hyderabad. This proposed padayatra, Revanth Reddy said, would serve to rally the public behind the Musi rejuvenation and bring attention to the pollution issues plaguing the river.
Revanth Reddy challenged BRS leaders K. Chandrashekar Rao, K.T. Rama Rao and T. Harish Rao to join this padayatra to gauge public sentiment on the Musi rejuvenation. “If you have the guts, join this padayatra. Today’s padayatra is just a trailer; I’ll show you the full cinema with the January padayatra,” he warned.
“The people of Nalgonda will tell you themselves whether they want Musi’s rejuvenation if you join the padayatra. I am sure the people of Nalgonda will tie rocks to your waists and throw you into the Musi,” Revanth thundered.
Revanth Reddy did not hesitate to issue strong warnings to political opponents, who have vowed to obstruct the project. He referenced statements from BRS leaders Rama Rao and Harish Rao, who reportedly threatened to lie in front of bulldozers to block the Musi rejuvenation efforts. “If you obstruct the bulldozers, you will face the consequences,” he warned, assuring that the bulldozers would proceed regardless.
In a dramatic statement symbolising his commitment to the Musi restoration, Revanth Reddy even named minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy and Alair MLA Beerla Ilaiah as those who would lead the bulldozers over any obstructionists.
“I will send minister Komatireddy as the bulldozer driver, and MLA Beerla Ilaiah will flag off the bulldozer. If KCR, KTR, and Harish have the courage, they should lie in front of the bulldozers. The bulldozer will run over them and continue the Musi rejuvenation work.”
Amidst cheers from supporters, Revanth Reddy fiercely defended himself against allegations that he planned to exploit the Musi project for personal gain, saying his only goal was to restore the environment and support local communities.
“BRS leaders claim that I am undertaking the Musi project with Rs 1.5 lakh crore to loot Rs 25,000 crore. If I had the intention to loot money, I would have done so using the Dharani portal, like you did. Even if I manipulated 100 acres in Kokapet by transferring them to my name through the Dharani portal, I would gain Rs 100 crore. If I had manipulated 500 acres in Kokapet, I would have got Rs 50,000 crore,” Revanth Reddy said, asserting that his intention was to protect the region’s environment, and not to profit from it.
He said the Musi River, once a lifeline for Hyderabad and surrounding districts, has seen decades of degradation due to industrial and sewage pollution.
Revanth Reddy lamented the environmental loss and social impact on communities that depended on the river for their livelihoods. “Musi was once a boon for Hyderabad, Rangareddy, and Nalgonda districts,” he said, pointing out the toll on traditional professions like farming, fishing, and cattle rearing.
Pollution, he argued, had decimated these livelihoods and eroded public health and food security, causing economic suffering for local communities.
The Chief Minister also took a swipe at BJP leaders, criticising them for supporting the Ganga cleaning and Sabarmati Riverfront projects by Prime Minister Narendra Modi but opposing the Musi initiative.
“BJP leaders praise Prime Minister Narendra Modi for spending Rs 40,000 crore on the Ganga and developing the Sabarmati Riverfront, yet they obstruct the Musi rejuvenation project. This is clear double standards,” he remarked.
Thanking the people of the undivided Nalgonda district for delivering a resounding victory to Congress in the recent Assembly polls, where the party won 11 out of 12 seats, Revanth Reddy said it was his responsibility to repay the people’s support by ensuring a cleaner and healthier Musi river. “The Congress came to power in Telangana with your blessings, and I owe my position to you. We are not here today at someone’s mercy,” he said. “Now, it’s time for us to repay this trust through the Musi rejuvenation project.”
Recalling the Musi river’s historical significance as a vital resource for communities in Hyderabad, Rangareddy, and Nalgonda districts, Revanth Reddy expressed his commitment to restoring its status as a lifeline. He underscored the hardships faced by people from communities that rely on caste-based professions — including Yadavas, Goudas, Kurumas, Mudirajs, and Kummaris — due to pollution in the river, which has also negatively impacted agriculture and aquaculture. “I aim to rejuvenate Musi to support livelihoods and revive these hereditary professions,” he said.