NHRC probes environmental damage along Musi riverbanks
HYDERABAD: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has registered a case over allegations of large-scale environmental damage along the Musi riverbanks. The complaint came from human rights lawyer Rama Rao Immaneni.
Immaneni said authorities were felling mature trees in Narsingi, Langar Houz, and Ramdevguda. He added that officials were removing thousands of houses despite residents’ protests. Residents reported that workers uprooted trees using earthmoving equipment and blocked roads with green mats to hide the activity, as reported by DC.
Immaneni told the commission that developers planned large structures over the catchment areas of adjoining water bodies. He described this activity as impermissible. He urged the NHRC to instruct Musi River Development Corporation MD E.V. Narasimha Reddy to stop works that harm the ecology, halt the felling of ancient trees, and protect heritage structures until proper impact assessments are complete.
He also requested compensation for families displaced without following the Land Acquisition Act, 2013. The complaint classified the issue under pollution, ecology, and environment, noting that negligence in environmental protection cannot be tolerated. The commission has started an inquiry into the matter.
