During a recent visit to Seoul, South Korea, Bhuvanagiri MP Chamala Kirankumar Reddy, accompanied by Ministers Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and Ponnam Prabhakar, discussed their plans for the Musi rejuvenation project. Standing beside the Cheonggyecheon stream, they shared their vision to emulate Seoul’s successful river restoration project.
The Musi River development is expected to follow the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, similar to the Cheonggyecheon project. This involves creating commercial developments, such as restaurants and skyscrapers, alongside the river by removing existing settlements. The ministers who visited Seoul affirmed that the Congress government in Telangana is committed to undertaking this project at any cost.
According to the current plan, the Telangana government aims to redevelop one kilometer on either side of the Musi River. So far, approximately 150 structures have been demolished as part of the Musi beautification project. While Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has claimed that these demolitions were voluntary, government records suggest that they are part of a larger plan to appropriate private lands for corporate interests.
The Congress government has yet to fully disclose the project’s full scope, but a recent presentation by Minister Sridhar Babu and PCC President Mahesh Kumar Goud revealed a plan to develop 110 square kilometers along the 55-kilometer stretch of the Musi River. This would involve the removal of structures within the buffer zone.
The public presentation clarified that the land required for this project will be acquired under the Land Acquisition Act of 2013. However, the government has remained tight-lipped about the exact extent of the land acquisition. If the expansion extends to one kilometer on either side of the river, it will require the displacement of numerous residents and businesses.
The silence from the Musi River Development Corporation Limited (MRDCL) has raised concerns, particularly since they have not clarified the project’s full scope to the public. However, based on developments during the Seoul tour, it is increasingly apparent that the government intends to proceed with the plan.
The project aims to hand over a 110-square-kilometer area on both sides of the river to private companies under the PPP model. These companies will lease land for 30-50 years to develop restaurants, commercial complexes, and entertainment centers, while paying a fixed annual fee to the government.
Under the leadership of former Chief Minister KCR, the previous BRS government had devised a plan to develop an expressway over the Musi River, ensuring that no housing structures would be demolished. However, the current Congress government under CM Revanth Reddy has proposed building the expressway along the riverbanks, which would require the acquisition of 250-350 feet of land on both sides. This has raised concerns about the displacement of slum dwellers and small businesses.
MP Chamala Kirankumar Reddy, during his Seoul visit, compared the Musi River project to the Cheonggyecheon Stream’s restoration in South Korea. He stated that in Seoul, opposition to the project was resolved by involving small traders in the redevelopment process. However, this claim has been met with skepticism.
In reality, no structures were demolished during the Cheonggyecheon project, and no businesses were relocated. The South Korean government even provided tax concessions and extended business hours to mitigate disruptions during the construction period.
In contrast, the Musi River project has already seen the demolition of several structures, with more removals planned. Critics argue that while the South Korean model involved careful planning to protect local businesses, the Musi project appears to prioritize private development at the expense of existing communities. The government’s silence on these concerns has only fueled further public opposition.