The ‘Revitalisation Plan’ in Hyderabad: A Neglect of Severe Pollution

• A. Revanth Reddy, the first Congress Chief Minister of Telangana, proposed a plan to redevelop Hyderabad’s Musi riverfront, aiming to replicate London’s Thames.
• The Musi, a major urban area, has been a cesspool for sewage, with over 60% untreated.
• Industrial effluents from the generic drug industry also contribute to the river’s toxic state.
• The plan faced resistance from the evictees, who live along the riverbanks and depend on it for farming.
• The government’s rehabilitation plan for the evictees was far-flung, affecting their livelihoods.
• The plan is seen as a cosmetic change, aiming to replace the riverfront with a commercial activity.
• The plan has not addressed the source of pollution from chemical effluents and untreated sewage.