Social activist Medha Patkar has urged A Revanth Reddy, Chief Minister of Telangana, to suspend the unveiling of the detailed project plans for Phase-I of the Musi River Rejuvenation Project scheduled for March 13, citing concerns over lack of public participation and potential displacement of communities.
In a letter dated March 9, Patkar expressed solidarity with riparian communities and the Musi Jan Andolan, stressing the need for genuine participatory governance in the river restoration process. The letter was also copied to Rahul Gandhi, Jairam Ramesh and Meenakshi Natarajan, the All India Congress Committee general secretary in charge of Telangana.
Patkar said she had received an official invitation from the Managing Director of the Musi River Development Corporation Limited for the event, which was described as a platform for “partnership discussions” and engagement with stakeholders. However, she criticised the framework, claiming it excluded key voices such as families directly affected by land acquisition notices, environmental experts, social activists and community groups representing upstream and downstream concerns.
According to Patkar, such exclusions undermine the idea of meaningful partnership and place greater emphasis on consultations with elite stakeholders rather than addressing the realities faced by local residents.
Referring to the scale of the project, which the state government has revived as a flagship programme, she noted that around 300 homes have already been demolished and new acquisition notices have been issued. These include land for the Gandhi Sarovar Project, requiring 10.34 acres in Bandlaguda Jagir village along with additional notifications for 43.48 acres.
Patkar also highlighted the February 16 government order — GO Ms No. 921 — which exempted the Musi Riverfront Development Project from mandatory Social Impact Assessment. According to the order, around 10,000 structures and nearly 3,279 acres of land are expected to be acquired as part of the project.
She further criticised what she described as a piecemeal approach to the Detailed Project Report (DPR), pointing to the absence of a comprehensive report covering the entire project and the lack of a cumulative environmental impact assessment. Patkar also raised concerns over shortcomings in the Environmental Impact Assessment process, including incomplete public consultations and insufficient disclosure of land details.
While reiterating her support for river rejuvenation efforts, Patkar said the Musi River, which already suffers from severe industrial pollution and encroachments, should be restored in a way that minimises displacement and protects people’s homes and livelihoods. She emphasised that the process must comply fully with the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
In her letter, Patkar requested the state government to postpone the March 13 unveiling event and release a draft Detailed Project Plan for the entire project in English, Telugu and Urdu to allow a 60-day period for public feedback. She also called for dialogue between the Chief Minister, affected communities and officials, public hearings in Musi-affected areas, and the formation of an independent committee to review the project from a river-basin perspective.
She further demanded the withdrawal of all land acquisition notices issued for the project and urged the state legislature to repeal the 2017 amendments to the land acquisition law, restoring the 2013 Act in its original form.
Patkar expressed hope that the Telangana government would pursue the rejuvenation of the Musi River while safeguarding the rights and livelihoods of riverine communities, and uphold the principles of democratic governance under the spirit of “Praja Palana.”
Also read: Delhi Court acquits Medha Patkar in defamation case by LG Saxena
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