iver Musi has at last attracted the attention of the powers that be. The Telangana government is preparing a plan to pump in as many as Rs. 3,000 crore towards revitalisation and beautification of the river and environs, most part of it is located in the city.
Minister for IT, Panchayat Raj and Municipal Administration & Urban Development, K.T. Rama Rao on Tuesday announced that the State would approach the National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development (Nabard) under the ‘Green Climate Fund’ for the project which also entails construction of more Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), an expressway connecting the East-West corridors, etc. If need be funds would also be scoured from South Korea.
He directed the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) and others to prepare a detailed action plan within the next 10 days to be submitted to Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao. The Minister criss-crossed the length and breadth of the river accompanied by the Mayor B. Rambabu, Deputy Mayor Baba Fasiduddin, senior officials, including Special Chief Secretary M.G. Gopal, GHMC Commissioner B. Janardhan Reddy, HMDA Commissioner Chiranjeevulu and others.
He was later giving a glimpse of the issues plaguing the river in a power point presentation at the Amberpet STP.
Mr. Rao was informed that about 51 drains pour out their releases into the river and most if it is untreated. The river flow in the city is to an extent of 30 km and of the 1,230 million litres a day sewage released into the river, 93 per cent of it is untreated because of the inadequate number of STPs and also capacity. As many as 10 new STPs were required to be installed at different points across the river.
The Minister expressed the government’s resolve to ensure that there is free flow of water from Manchirevula to Bapu Ghat in Langar House. All the revitalisation and beautification plans would be taken up in phases, he said, stating that a km around the river bank would be provided with greenery. He cautioned the officials about taking up works like the inflated rubber dams on the river which turned out to be disastrous. The civic departments should take adequate steps to see that mosquito menace and foul smell is controlled along the river.
