KTR Questions Musi River Project Cost Escalation

BRS working president K T Rama Rao today raised concerns over the proposed Musi river beautification project of the State government, highlighting the dramatic increase in project costs.

Initially estimated at Rs 50,000 crore, the project's cost was later revised to Rs 70,000 crore, and now a staggering Rs 1.5 lakh crore was being proposed, he said.

KTR said that the erstwhile Telangana government had already completed 100% sewerage treatment at a cost of Rs 3,866 crore, and had planned the rejuvenation, beautification and development of the river at an estimated cost of Rs 16,634 crore. This included an expressway from ORR West (Manchirevula) to ORR East (Pratapa Singaram). He questioned the significant increase in project costs, raising doubts about the current government's calculations and intentions.

He pointed out that the Congress had criticized the Kaleshwaram Project, which he claimed transformed the fortunes of Telangana's farmers and was completed at a cost of Rs 80,000 crore, and that the same party was now proposing an expenditure for Musi's beautification amounting to Rs 1.5 lakh crore.

"How many farmers will benefit from the Musi project? What is the storage capacity in TMCs? How many acres will come under irrigation? What will be the increase in crop yield? What industrial needs will be met? How many new large reservoirs will be constructed?" KTR asked.

KTR also questioned Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's preference for the Musi project over the Palamuru - Ranga Reddy project, which he said was in its final stages. He also raised concerns about the thinking behind transforming the Musi into a river akin to London's Thames leaving other irrigation projects that could be completed with lesser budget and effort.

KTR alleged that the tripling of Musi's estimated expenditure was evidence of financial mismanagement. He said that while the project was necessary and needed to be completed promptly, corruption or misuse of funds should not be tolerated.

KTR said that the Telangana society remained vigilant, monitoring the developments of the Musi riverfront initiative. Any attempts to embezzle funds would be met with strong opposition, he warned the government.