Hyderabad: The Musi River Rejuvenation Project should be implemented through public participation, scientific planning, complete transparency, and dignified rehabilitation, eminent political leaders, environmentalists, legal experts, and social thinkers suggested during a State-Level Round Table Conference held in Hyderabad on Saturday.
The conference was organized by the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), Telangana, at Central Court Hotel to deliberate on various aspects of the Musi River Rejuvenation Project.
The meeting was chaired by Prof. Kapilavai Dilip Kumar, Former MLC and President of RLD Telangana, while Dr. Lion Komatireddy Gopal Reddy, Vice President of RLD Telangana, eminent educationist, environmentalist, National Advisor of the Environment Protection & Development Council, and Green Ambassador of Telangana, served as the Co-Chairman.
In his inaugural address, Prof. Kapilavai Dilip Kumar said that the Musi River Rejuvenation Project is not merely an infrastructure initiative but a comprehensive programme encompassing environmental protection, social justice, sustainable livelihoods, and economic development. He stressed that public opinion must be accorded the highest priority in projects of such magnitude and announced that all suggestions and recommendations emerging from the conference would be compiled into a comprehensive report and submitted to the Government of Telangana.
Former Governor Bandaru Dattatreya stated that rejuvenating the Musi River is vital for the future of Hyderabad. He remarked that there is no need to search for international models, as the Sabarmati Riverfront Development Project, initiated under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat, offers valuable lessons. He suggested that the Sabarmati model be carefully studied and adapted to suit Hyderabad’s local conditions while ensuring equal importance to public welfare, environmental conservation, and sustainable development.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Lion Komatireddy Gopal Reddy said, “The Musi River is the cradle of Hyderabad’s civilization. It should not be treated merely as a drainage canal but restored as a vibrant, living natural river.” He emphasized that “Development should exist for people, not people for development.”
Dr. Gopal Reddy called upon the government to ensure complete transparency throughout the implementation process so as to build public confidence. He stressed that affected families must receive dignified rehabilitation, sustainable livelihood opportunities, quality education for children, and adequate healthcare facilities.
He further recommended that untreated sewage and industrial effluents must be prevented from entering the river by operating modern Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) at full capacity and by enforcing strict pollution control measures on industries. He noted that true river rejuvenation extends far beyond beautification and must focus on restoring the river’s natural flow, conserving biodiversity, protecting riverbanks, expanding green cover, and maintaining ecological balance.
Member of Parliament Etala Rajender observed that development and democracy must progress together. He urged the government to ensure that no family suffers injustice in the name of rehabilitation and emphasized transparency and public participation at every stage of the project.
BRS MLC Ravinder Rao stated that his party is not opposed to the development of the Musi River but has been raising concerns regarding the lack of transparency in the project’s implementation. He urged the government to proceed in a manner that strengthens public trust.
Renowned social scientist Prof. G. Haragopal emphasized that the rights and welfare of people living along the Musi river basin must be fully protected before undertaking development works. He recommended constituting an advisory committee comprising representatives of political parties and civil society organizations to guide the project. He also advocated for local rehabilitation instead of relocating affected families to distant locations, stating that such an approach would better protect their livelihoods, employment opportunities, and children’s education.
Prof. Madabhushi Sridhar, Dean, School of Law, Mahindra University, stated that the project should strictly adhere to environmental laws, constitutional values, and judicial guidelines. He called upon society to collectively assume responsibility for protecting rivers, lakes, and other natural water bodies.
Other speakers, including Taduri Srinivas, Kathi Venkataswamy, Beerappa, Sumanth Reddy, and Bellayya Naik, emphasized that achieving permanent pollution-free restoration of the Musi River requires scientific planning, effective sewage treatment, strict industrial pollution control, conservation of riverbanks, and active public participation.
The conference unanimously resolved that all recommendations, expert opinions, and suggestions presented during the deliberations should be compiled into a comprehensive report, along with complete documentation of the proceedings, and submitted to the Government of Telangana.
The participants expressed confidence that if the Musi River Rejuvenation Project is implemented based on the four guiding principles of environmental conservation, public welfare, scientific planning, and dignified rehabilitation, it can become a national model for sustainable river restoration.
The conference witnessed the participation of Former Governor Bandaru Dattatreya, MP Etala Rajender, Former MLC Prof. Kapilavai Dilip Kumar, Dr. Lion Komatireddy Gopal Reddy, MLC Ravinder Rao, Prof. G. Haragopal, Prof. Madabhushi Sridhar, along with leaders from various political parties, environmental experts, legal professionals, academicians, representatives of civil society organizations, social activists, and members of the media.
