The Telangana government has initiated the beautification works of the Musi River, which includes the removal of houses around the river. The government stated that these homes were built on encroached land and are therefore being demolished. It has also assured that those losing their homes will be provided with two-bedroom houses. However, long-term residents of the area are not welcoming the change. They argue that they have been living there for many years, have invested significant amounts of money in building their homes, and now find it unfair to leave their properties behind. This dispute between the government and the residents has been ongoing for several days.
The Telangana High Court has issued a stay order on the demolition of 100 homes in the Musi River catchment area, including #Chaithanyapuri, #Phanigiricolony, #Sathyanagar, and #Kothapeta. Homeowners have displayed banners and posters indicating that their properties are… pic.twitter.com/cX4pQYCCkH
— V Chandramouli (@VChandramouli6) October 14, 2024
Homeowners Obtain Stay Orders
After a brief pause, the government has resumed the Musi beautification works, which includes demolishing the houses. However, several homes now display High Court stay order boards. These can be seen in Chaitanyapuri, Phanigiri Colony, Satyanagar, and Kothapet, with around 100 homeowners reportedly having obtained stay orders. The residents have made it clear that they are unwilling to give up their homes for the project and are prepared to fight a legal battle. The government, however, remains determined to proceed with the works. According to Danakishore, Managing Director of the Musi Riverfront Development Corporation, nearly 1,600 private constructions along the Musi riverbed have been identified through a survey. The state government has allocated approximately 15,000 double-bedroom houses to rehabilitate the families residing in the Musi riverbed and buffer zones.