Concerns are mounting over the potential demolition of nearly 1.5 lakh houses for the Musi beautification project. These fears stem from a map released by the Musi Riverfront Development Corporation Limited (MRDCL), which shows a significant number of structures within the Full River Level (FRL) zone. The structures marked within this zone, if subject to removal, could lead to widespread displacement.
The MRDCL map, developed in collaboration with departments such as Revenue and Irrigation, outlines the flow paths of water from both the Himayat Sagar and Osman Sagar (Gandipet) reservoirs. These flow paths converge near Langar House, after which the Musi River flows through the Nalgonda district before joining the Krishna River.
The total river flow from Osman Sagar to Bapu Ghat near Langar House spans about 11.7 kilometers, while the Esa River, flowing from Himayat Sagar to Bapughat, covers nine kilometers. The map details a 45-kilometer stretch where the two rivers meet, extending to Gourelli. The flow path stretches 54 kilometers up to the Outer Ring Road.
On this map, thousands of houses, including recently demolished structures, are marked with a red “RB-X” symbol. It is estimated that around 5,000 structures lie within the riverbed in the Rangareddy, Hyderabad, and Medchal-Malkajgiri districts. Demolitions of these structures have already begun.
Additionally, a blue FRL mark indicates the maximum river flow level. Many structures within this zone may be subject to removal if the buffer zone, which extends 30 meters from the FRL as per regulations, is enforced. Although the buffer zone has not been marked on the current map, experts suggest that up to 1.5 lakh structures could be affected along the 54-kilometer stretch if this zone is fully enforced.
While the government argues that the structures in the riverbed are illegal, many of the buildings in areas like Hydershakote, Attapur, and Nagole have long-standing permissions and have been paying property taxes, water, and electricity bills for decades. Even older constructions in the HUDA layout near Langar House have been marked for demolition, raising questions about the clarity of the FRL and buffer zone boundaries.