Over 100 activists, environmentalists, academics from all across India as well as Telangana issued an urgent open Statement today, on the eve of the launch of Musi Riverfront Development Project by the Chief Minister of Telangana. Initiated by the National Forum of Urban Struggles (SHRAM) of the National Alliance of Peoples Movements (NAPM), the statement calls for an immediate and comprehensive review of the Musi Riverfront Project, from all angles, in a truly consultative, people-centric and ecologically just manner.
The signatories questioned as to why the project is being hastened and demolitions of homes of poor working people being carried out, without even the Detailed Project Report (DPR), clearances and rehabilitation policy in place.
Key demands include: Musi River Rejuvenation should not be a project of mega displacement, land grab and privatization! Project should not be hurried without DPR, all legal compliances and clearances, R&R Policy, public consultations; ecological free flow of Musi must be ensured by ending industrial, municipal pollution and not by commodification of urban commons or diversion of forests, farm lands for mega projects; and arbitrary evictions, demolitions must stop and rights to dignified housing, livelihoods, education, democratic participation of all Musi residents, with transparency, must be upheld.
The signatories felt that the Congress Government which came to power in Telangana promising socially just and inclusive governance, must demonstrate the same in practice. Any river rejuvenation should be in a manner that does least harm to the commons and riverine population, avoiding unnecessary eviction and land acquisition, especially for commercial interests.
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The National Forum of Urban Struggles (SHRAM) of the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) expresses deep concern at the manner in which Mr. Revanth Reddy, Chief Minister of Telangana is proceeding with the ‘Musi Riverfront Development Project’, without adequate consideration to the numerous socio-ecological, economic dimensions of the Project. As the CM is all set to formally lay the foundation stone for the Project tomorrow, we call for an immediate and comprehensive review of the Musi Riverfront Project, from all angles, in a truly consultative, people-centric and ecologically just manner.
For over three decades, successive governments tried to introduce the same Project in different forms, although none of them sought to address the fundamental issues around deteriorating riverine health and people’s rights. The infamous Nandanavanam Project had to be scrapped by the then Chief Minister Mr. Chandra Babu Naidu in 2000, after a strong people’s movement. The BRS Govt established the Musi Riverfront Development Corporation Limited (MRDCL), during its first term, although it didn’t stay in power to pursue the Project. The Congress Govt has now made this its flagship program and the CM, in particular is almost unrelenting, considering this his ‘Dream Project’, visiting and drawing ‘inspiration’ from London and Seoul !
The past month in particular has seen hectic activity on the ground, with hundreds of houses being marked in red as RB-X (said be in the Musi River bed), and many among them already demolished, despite no notice and stiff opposition by people who have been living there since generations. As per official figures, close to 300 families have been shifted (many involuntarily) to the 2-BHK housing units in different localities, although the facilities at these locations is far from desirable. So far, none of the tenants and multiple families residing within each structure have been ensured rehabilitation. Hundreds of other families whose houses have been arbitrarily marked as RB-X, ‘M’ or are said to be in the ‘buffer zone’ are living in constant uncertainty and fear of eviction. The criteria for such markings haven’t yet been put out officially, although authorities claim that 10,000 structures across the Musi would be affected! Most of these families are working class, lower, middle- income residents whose livelihoods are closely knit in the area.
We are of the considered view that a Project of this scale having wide ramifications on Telangana should not be pursued in such haste and without widespread public consultations. There are some fundamental concerns that first need to be addressed by the Government:
- Why is the Project being hastened and demolitions of homes of poor being carried out without even the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and Rehabilitation Policy in place?
- What is the total extent of land required for this Project and what would be the overall number of people and families displaced?
- Has the Project secured all mandatory clearances (environmental, municipal, finance etc) from appropriate authorities?
- Have project authorities followed the compliance mechanism processes and conditions of the World Bank and other multilateral financial institutions whose finances are to be involved?
- If the Project is only for cleaning of Musi from industrial and municipal pollution and flood control, why is so much land needed, why construct mega theme parks, tourism hubs and private ventures along the river banks?
- How can a ‘Clean Musi’ Project be successful if the Govt continues with other projects like ‘Pharma villages’ and Damagundam Forest Navy Radar Project that would have an adverse bearing on the health of Musi?
Reports indicate that alongside the Musi Riverfront Project, other Hyderabad-based projects like Future City, mega road and infrastructure hubs, would cost a whopping 1.5 lakh crores. This raises larger questions as to whether expenditure of such a scale is desirable, while crucial sectors like education, health, agriculture, housing and social security need more attention and investment. Musi Rejuvenation must mean preserving the riverine health and hydrological wellness and not opening up urban commons for capitalist commodification and real estate. Musi needs attention across its 267 kms stretch (including the 55 kms flowing through Hyderabad), addressing concerns of people living alongside it and farmers of 64 villages in the downstream, who are entitled to pollution-free water for irrigation.
We call upon the authorities to immediately stop all attempts at eviction G displacement. Those already unjustly evicted must be fully rehabilitated and the Govt must declare its Rehabilitation Policy forthwith, addressing aspects of dignified housing, livelihoods, education etc. in the event of further displacement of people from the river bed. Any rejuvenation should be in a manner that does least harm to the commons and riverine population, avoiding unnecessary eviction and land acquisition, especially for commercial interests.
The Congress Government which came to power in the state last year, after the significant Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi promised a socially just and inclusive governance, catering to the needs of the marginalized sections of society. Mr. Rahul Gandhi has also (rightly) constantly been raising concerns of crony capitalism at the Centre. However, in Telangana, the manner in which this Project is being bulldozed raises alarm bells over the status of democratic and inclusive decision-making. At the very least, the Govt should have followed the processes in the Land Acquisition and Resettlement Act, 2013 which came in during the UPA regime, after protracted people’s movements. Likewise, the Govt owes to people all information through proactive disclosure, in terms of the letter and spirit of RTI Act, 2005, which was also brought in by UPA.
A Government which claims to build a ‘world-class city’ must first adhere to the internationally recognized principle of free, prior, informed consent of and consultation with people at every stage of Project. We hope that the CM would roll back his capitalist model of river revival and instead uphold a truly democratic, ecologically just, people's vision of Musi Rejuvenation.
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