BJP terms Musi Project public hearing a ‘farce’, demands dialogue with displaced families
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BJP state president N. Ramchander Rao on Friday described the public hearing on the Musi Rejuvenation Project as a “farce”, alleging that those most likely to be affected by the project were not invited to participate in the consultation process.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP state office, Rao questioned how a public hearing could be considered meaningful when victims and families facing possible displacement were allegedly excluded from the proceedings.
He claimed that several ex-servicemen living in the Madhu Park area, which falls within the Gandhi Sarovar project limits, were denied entry to a meeting organised by Musi Riverfront Corporation officials near Himayatsagar on October 28. He demanded that the government hold a “Praja Darbar” with affected residents before proceeding further.
The state president warned that the party would strongly oppose any demolition of houses without adequate compensation, rehabilitation and resettlement measures. He argued that scientific methods could be used to clean and restore the Musi River without resorting to large-scale displacement of residents.
He alleged that while the previous BRS government had announced an estimated allocation of ₹750 crore for the Musi Corporation but released just ₹3 crore, the Congress government was projecting expenditure running into thousands of crores without presenting a detailed project report (DPR) or clearly outlining budgetary allocations.
On the issue of electoral rolls, the BJP chief said objections regarding additions and deletions could be addressed through Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Booth Level Agents (BLAs) of political parties as they can verify voter details on the ground and submit claims or objections through prescribed procedures.
Later, at a meeting organised by university teachers serving on contract, Rao demanded that any fresh recruitment in the state’s 12 universities be undertaken only after eligible contract faculty are absorbed into service, who should be paid UGC pay scales and the Seventh Pay Revision Commission benefits.
The BJP leader further announced that Union Home Minister Amit Shah would visit Hyderabad on November 2 to participate in a “Maha Padayatra” from the Babu Jagjivan Ram statue near Nizam College to Mozamjahi Market crossroads, where he is scheduled to address a public meeting. The programme is intended to counter Congress Party’s “misinformation” regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
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