The Musi Riverfront project faced fresh political opposition on Wednesday after former Telangana minister Sabitha Indra Reddy alleged that police placed her and her son under house arrest to prevent them from attending a public hearing on the proposed redevelopment plan. She questioned the government’s plan to spend ₹1.40 lakh crore on the project while farmers and families living along the Musi river continue to seek financial support and rehabilitation.
Speaking to the media, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader alleged that the action was intended to restrict opposition leaders from raising public concerns about the project. She said the BRS would continue to campaign for farmers and residents who could be affected by the proposed development.
Sabitha also demanded compensation of ₹50,000 per acre for farmers who suffered crop losses during drought-like conditions. She said farmers were borrowing money for cultivation and faced severe hardship when crops failed because of inadequate water and electricity supply. She criticised the collection of self-declaration certificates from farmers purchasing seeds, arguing that the government should take responsibility for addressing agricultural losses.
The former minister’s comments linked the project to wider concerns about how Telangana’s public funds are being prioritised. She questioned why the Congress government was preparing to spend ₹1.40 lakh crore on the Musi project when farmers in several parts of the state were reportedly struggling with crop losses, irrigation shortages and inadequate power supply. She urged the government to redirect a portion of the proposed expenditure towards crop-loss compensation and more reliable irrigation and electricity services.
The redevelopment plan has also raised concerns about residents living in colonies along the Musi river. Sabitha said thousands of families could face displacement and demanded fair compensation and proper rehabilitation for households at risk of losing their homes. She called for the government to disclose the project’s expected benefits, cost and likely impact before proceeding.
She further said public consultations should allow affected residents to express their views without intimidation. Her remarks place the conduct of public hearings and the treatment of project-affected communities at the centre of the political dispute around the Musi Riverfront project.
Former ministers KT Rama Rao, Harish Rao and Niranjan Reddy, along with party leaders Dasoju Sravan and others, also condemned the alleged house arrest. The report did not include a response from the Telangana government or the police to the allegations.
Sabitha called on Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to focus on farmers’ welfare, irrigation, electricity supply and the concerns of families affected by the Musi project. She said the BRS would continue raising the compensation and rehabilitation demands as the proposed redevelopment moves forward.
