HYDRA chief clears air on clearing of encroachments on Musi River
Hyderabad: Contrary to social media reports, the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRA) is set to clear rampant encroachments on the riverbed and banks of Musi River which runs through Hyderabad.
Earlier, HYDRA Commissioner AV Ranganath held a meeting with the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) Commissioner Sarfaraz Ahmad and the officials of its town planning wing. HYDRA Commissioner rejected the reports that they were not entrusted with the task of clearing encroachments on Musi riverbed and its banks.
As part of the Musi River Front Development project, the Telangana government will develop a 55-km stretch with amusement parks, children’s watersports and business arenas along the river. The Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy had said the government will form a tourism circuit by connecting all the historical structures in the vicinity of the Musi River such as including Charminar, Qutub Shahi Tombs and Golconda.
Musi Riverfront Development Corporation Limited (MRDCL) will undertake the repair works of 17 bridges on Nayapul, Puranapul bridges, Nagole, Imliban, Muslim Jung, Tippu Khan, Bapu Ghat, Salarjung, Attapur, Chaderghat and Golnaka bridge along the river within within the Outer Ring Road (ORR) limits.
Officials of MRDCL have carried out the inspection of encroached areas along the Musi River. They have also identified encroachments in areas around Tipu Khan bridge, Nagole and Chaderghat. They are expected to share their findings with the HYDRA team.
The officials are stated to have identified over 10,000 structures in the riverbed and on the banks of the Musi River. Majority of constructions were found in the buffer zone while only 2,116 structures have been built on the riverbed. According to the Irrigation department, 50 metres on both sides of the Musi River will be considered as the buffer zone and no constructions are allowed in the perimeter.
