Musi Revitalization Project

[World8115]

Musi River

The Musi River is a tributary of Krishna River in the Deccan Plateau region of Andhra Pradesh state in India. It flows through a major portion of Hyderabad, India and divides the historic old city with the new city. Himayat Sagar and Osman Sagar is known as Gandipet are the two dams built on it which act as source of water for Hyderabad. Musi River is known as Muchukunda river in olden days. Hussain Sagar lake was built on a tributary of the River Musi. It was a lake of 24 kilometres built to meet the water and irrigation needs of the city.

Musi Revitalization Project

The 'Save Musi Campaign' was taken up in 2005 on the river from Tipu Khan Bridge to Nagole Bridge. The campaign was divided into three precincts - the 7.28 km ecological precinct from Tippu Khan Bridge to Puranapul, the 3.98 km heritage precinct from Puranapul to Chaderghat and the metropolitan precinct from Chaderghat to Nagole Bridge measuring 8.64 km. The heritage precinct, meant for development as a tourist attraction, is being handled by the GHMC under a JNNURM scheme and is called the Musi Revitalization project. The other two precincts are being handled by the HMDA.

[World8115]

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[World8115]

The ugly side of Musi beautification project

TOI

A revamped Musi envisaged by the Save Musi Campaign could have enthralled delegates visiting Hyderabad in October for the COP 11 but that is not to be, thanks to land acquisition problems and slow paced technical works.

The 'Save Musi Campaign' was taken up in 2005 on the river from Tipu Khan Bridge to Nagole Bridge. The campaign was divided into three precincts - the 7.28 km ecological precinct from Tippu Khan Bridge to Puranapul, the 3.98 km heritage precinct from Puranapul to Chaderghat and the metropolitan precinct from Chaderghat to Nagole Bridge measuring 8.64 km. The heritage precinct, meant for development as a tourist attraction, is being handled by the GHMC under a JNNURM scheme and is called the Musi Revitalization project. The other two precincts are being handled by the HMDA.

As part of the campaign another project called the Abatement of Pollution in Musi (APM) was finalised at a cost of Rs 335 crore (with 70% contribution by the Centre and 30% by the state) under National River Conservation Directorate (NRCD). The Water Board is responsible for the execution of this project. The campaign which started in 2005 with a 30-month target has missed many a deadline till date.

Bottlenecks include delay in completion of a sewerage treatment plant (STP) at Attapur under the APM project which has nullified beautification works carried out by the GHMC in the heritage precincts. The STP at Attapur lies up stream of the river and its functioning determines the quality of water that is allowed to flow further. GHMC had invested in rubber dams to create a stretch for boating and water entertainment, though not part of the original plan, but the dams could not be used since a brief trial run in 2010, owing to non-functioning of Attapur STP which is supposed to provide treated water for the dams. According to Water Board sources, it may take another month before the STP is inaugurated.

Encroachments on the north and southern sides of Musi near Imblibun and Chaderghat areas have also proved to be major impediments in this precinct. Interestingly, the estimated time of completion stated in the last quarterly progress report is September 2012 but it is unlikely that the authorities would even meet the deadline set for projects under the five-year JNNURM scheme that is scheduled to end in December 2012.

Another hurdle to the campaign came in the form of protests from residents of Ramanthapur village. Close to 93 acres of farmland was acquired in 2006, which later ran into litigation as residents were unwilling to part with it. Recently notices were served by the government to collect the compensation being offered and vacate the land. Residents blame the authorities for allowing around 1500 houses to come up on the lands since 2006 despite its claims of acquiring it. With the talk doing the rounds that the government intends to develop the acquired land for auctioning to raise revenue, Ramanthapur lands seems out of reach as of now.

Save Musi Campaign hits Ramanthapur roadblock

TOI

Efforts by the government to take possession of farmlands acquired for the Save Musi Campaign in Ramanthapur village has run into stiff opposition with the locals unwilling to give up land, alleging foul play.

About 93 acres of farm land in Ramanathapur Bhagayat was acquired in 2006 along with 600 acres in Uppal as part of the Save Musi Campaign which the HMDA has been entrusted with in the Chaderghat to Nagole Bridge section, in addition to the Tipu Khan-Puranapul section

. The land in the vicinity of Musi was stated to be acquired for beautification and for facilitating infrastructure development by other departments to keep the river clean. Around 105 acres in Uppal was also handed over to Hyderabad Metro Rail authorities.

Protests over Ramanthapur lands erupted last week when the HMDA reportedly sent notices asking owners to collect their compensation from the land revenue court and hand over the lands. Residents of Ramanthapur who have locked horns with the government say since 2006 many farm lands were sold away by farmers in whose place residential properties were built. As of now only 15 acres is farmland and close to 2000 families have houses on the remaining area. "We have been contesting the representations made on behalf of Ramanthapur farmers as unfair since 2007. Though the government claims to have fairly acquired the land, no board was put up by the HMDA informing prospective buyers of the acquisition. Registrations and transfer of title deeds were allowed to continue till 2010," said B Anjaiah Ramanthapur Bhagayat Welfare Association.

The issue of compensation has also not gone down well with the residents who say that the government is compensating the previous patta holders and not the current owners of the lands. They say that Rs 34 lakh per acre is being offered as compensation while the market price of the land is Rs 1 crore.

Locals allege that the government is grabbing lands under the garb of saving Musi when it actually wants to develop and auction it away.

"Plenty of land was acquired in Uppal. Even land requirements for metro rail were met from the acquired territory. There is no public project in the offing that requires additional land. The authorities are only seeking profit from the lands of the poor," fumed Anjaiah.

The HMDA authorities maintain that Ramanthapur and Uppal locals had in unison agreed to part with their lands in 2006. But later Ramanthapur locals refused to honor the agreement and challenged the acquisition in the court.

"The land acquisition process was halted when the court had initially issued a stay but it was vacated in 2011. The case was dismissed in favor of the government but a review petition is pending," a HMDA official said on condition of anonymity.

On Friday CPM leader P Madhu walked through four colonies in the area as mark of protest. Saturday saw hundreds of BJP activists and residents sit in protest at HMDA's office in Tarnaka demanding to know why the government had allowed sale and registration of plots on acquired lands.

[World8115]

X-posting from Hyd projects thread

Originally Posted by Gudavalli

GHMC nod for skywalk project at Secunderabad

The standing committee also gave the green signal to take up road widening works, laying new cement-concrete (CC) roads, construction of storm water drains at several areas, construction of RCC storm water drains, besides construction of a community hall at Jawaharlal Nagar, and preparation of detailed project report (DPR) for the riverfront development of Musi from Bapughat to Nagole bridge.

[World8115]

GHMC struggles to hide a slowly choking Musi river

Postnoon

An arterial waterway like the Musi lies neglected despite more than one scheme in existence for over eight years to rejuvenate it. With the CBD about to bring hundreds of foreigners into the City, the plight of the river is bound to draw flak.

The GHMC and government hope that the pathetic condition of the Musi river that cradled Hyderabad for ages will escape the world’s eye when the CBD’s CoP will begin on October 1.

You will find no poet writing an epitaph on the river banks as of now but civic bodies all along seem to be busy doing their best to write one. After eight years of its conception, Abatement of Pollution in the Musi (APM) and the Musi Revitalisation Project are yet to make any significant mark. APM was given a Rs.335 crore sanction, 70 per cent borne by the Centre and 30 per cent by the State. The Musi Revitalisation was given Rs.44 crore.

These projects were to be overseen by the Water Board and the GHMC and had started with much pomp and promises. But now years down the line, the Musi is yet to figure on the priority plans of a government that claims it is serious about its environment and biodiversity.

The APM project was to originally have four sewerage treatment plants (STP), 16 Interce*ption and diversion units alongside the 34 km sewage lines that would divert the water from the nallahs emptying into the river. Apart from the Attapur STP, others are in full working condition.

What then, has leashed our municipal bodies from bringing back a dead tributary to life? The answers and reasons are aplenty. “Because there is no clean water flowing into the river, the dams are deflated. Otherwise, the river would have been a tourist spot. We have spent Rs. 22 crore on this project, and are now waiting for clearances for the Attapur STP,” says R Dhan Singh, chief engineer of the GHMC.

Land encroachments at the Im*libun and Chaderghat areas of the river bank, farmland enc*ro*achments at Ramanthapur that we*re to be auctioned for the project and the dysfunctional Atta*pur STP — the number of problems just keep shooting up.

That, the project was to be completed by September 2012 makes for a cruel joke. But the punchline is that officials from the GHMC have admitted that the Attapur STP issue will take another six months to be resolved. J Geetha Krishnan, an environmental activist says, “It comes as no surprise that the Musi river revitalisation has not finished yet. It is a matter of shame that the importance of hosting an international conference on biodiversity has not speeded up the project.”

“The river that reared the City is in a pathetic condition and nobody cares,” bemoaned an environmental scientist.

Musi river stinks despite fund flow

DC

While turning a blind eye to the increasing number of encroachments along the Musi river bed, the GHMC has prepared grand plans to seek Rs 752 crore funding from the Centre for the river front development. After having engaged a private consultant to prepare a detailed project report, the GHMC has come up with the plan. The civic body is sending this DPR to the Centre for funding under National River Conservation Project. The plan is to take up the project costing Rs 493 crore in Phase-I and over Rs 258 crore in Phase-II.

The GHMC and Water Board have already spent Rs 1,000 crore on abatement of pollution and revitalisation of the river and yet the Musi continues to raise a stink like an open drain. Experts say that unless the encroachments are stopped and all squatters are remo-ved, even this Rs 752 crore will go down the drain. “Encroachments take place in broad daylight, but neither the GHMC nor the district collectorate authorities have taken any action. What is shocking is that even big godowns and automobile repair sheds have come up along the river bed and they were even given electricity connections,” MIM MLA Mumtaz Ahmed Khan said.

BJP floor leader G. Kishan Reddy said huts are being erected along the river by land sharks. “These huts are being rented to the labour class and migrants for Rs 50 to Rs 150 rent per day. It has become a business. If the entire river bed is dotted with encroachments, there would be no place left for beautification,” he said. A senior GHMC official said the government will launch a drive to remove all encroachments along the Musi soon, as Maximum Flood Flow Level of the river is being demarcated.

[World8115]

x-posting from projects thread

Originally Posted by Prodigist

HMDA proposes 8 projects costing Rs 3,300 cr

Source: The Hans India

The Musi Improvement Project
As part of the Musi River Front Development, two Radial Roads (i.e. RR-20 & 21) on either banks of the Musi River from Nagole Bridge (on IRR) to Singaram and Gourelly respectively on ORR for a length of 14 km each are proposed to be developed duly integrating with Musi River conservation/improvement project. These radial roads are proposed within the limits of 100 mts buffer zone away from the river. The balance buffer zone area will be developed as riverside boulevard.

[Gudavalli]

Musi to be cleaned, developed on the lines of Sabarmati

GHMC commissioner MT Krishna Babu has announced that Musi River would be purified and developed on the lines of Sabarmati River. Around Rs.520 crores will be spent on this project to be undertaken as part of the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP), he added. He further informed that the civic body was mulling over exempting heritage structures from property tax net.

As part of the Inclusive Heritage- based City Development Strategy (IHCDS), an initiative of the World Bank, a one-day workshop was held at Jubilee Hall on Monday. All the concerned stakeholders from the city took part in the programme, which was moderated by the project team of IHCDS comprising officials from the World Bank, Cities Alliance and CEPT (Centre for Environment Planning and technology) University, Ahmedabad.

Speaking on the occasion, the Commissioner stated that a Detailed Project Report (DPR) would be prepared on the outcome of the workshop, which then would be sent to Government of India for getting funds for the development of heritage structures.

He informed that Hyderabad was one amongst the three cities including Ajmer-Pushkar, Varanasi selected for this heritage programme. The civic body’s role would be that of renovation, remodelling of these heritage structures besides demolishing encroachments in the premises of heritage structures, Krishna Babu added.

Pointing out that urbanization was putting a lot of pressure on heritage structures, he appealed to the people staying around the historical monuments to own up that area. The Commissioner observed that the public representatives should also be made stakeholders for the development of heritage structures.

MT Krishna Babu informed that GHMC was taking all steps to protect tanks/lakes, nalas and also decided for providing chain mesh to 60- 70 lakes. GHMC is working on fixing of boundaries for lakes with an estimated cost of Rs. 1.25 crores, he said.

Stefania Abakerli, representative of World Bank pointed out that India has 5000 years of rich history. However, rapid urbanization is resulting in neglect of heritage, she lamented
India, which is in early urbanization stage should learn lessons from the developed countries and not repeat the same mistakes.

The objective of Inclusive Heritage based City Development Strategy (IHCDS) is to citizens as stakeholders to protect heritage structures of their areas, Stefania added.

The World Bank representative opined that there was every need to strengthen the heritage cell of GHMC to monitor coordination issues between various Government departments. She has suggested the stakeholders to come up with a proposal in 6 months time for the protection of heritage of the city.

Ajay D Suri, Regional Advisor, South Asia Cities Alliance, Delhi, Dr. CN Ray, Urban Specialist, Professor Saswat Bandopadhyay, Project Coordinator and Professor, Faculty of Planning, CEPT University, K Dhananjay Reddy, Additional Commissioner (Planning) and senior officers from HMDA, GHMC, Tourism, HMWS&SB, Archelogical Survey of India, heritage NGOs attended the workshop.

[World8115]

Facelift for Monda Market, General Bazaar soon

They present a picture of chaos. What stands out is overcrowding and a crumbling infrastructure. Sure, Monda Market and General Bazaar in Secunderabad have fallen prey to haphazard and unplanned urbanisation. But there is a glimmer of hope that these thriving economic hubs might regain their lost glory, if the GHMC plans fructify.


The Hindu Moda market at Secundrabad. Photo: G.Ramakrishna


The Hindu General bazar at Secunderabad. Photo: G.Ramakrishna

These hoary markets are proposed to be developed under the inclusive heritage-based city development programme. The idea is to improve the decaying infrastructure without affecting the unique character of the area or disturbing the economic activity. A concept paper on Monda Market and General Bazaar has already been submitted to the Steering Committee, constituted by the Ministry of Urban Development. This follows the recent stockholders meeting held here to mark the ‘historic Hyderabad heritage’ campaign. Once the Steering Committee clears the idea, it will be put forth for World Bank funding. GHMC officials are hopeful of getting a substantial amount to restore these areas, along with the Musi river front.

Monda Market has close to 200 shops, mostly in dilapidated condition, in an area spread over three acres. Along with the old jail, pot market, cloth and jewellery shops, the entire area comes under the plan for rejuvenation. Solid waste management, signage and parking too have been proposed to be developed.

Established nearly a century ago, Monda Market was meant to cater to the resident British army unit. In 1988 the wholesale business was shifted to Bowenpally, but it still attracts crowds.

Similarly, General Bazaar with its century-old Jagannath Swamy temple has come under plans to be restored. This area is home to scores of stationery, hosiery and readymade garments shops. Though mall culture has caught up, people still prefer to shop here both for the variety and cheap price.

The congested General Bazaar was earlier proposed to be widened, but the idea has now been dropped as it would affect the character of the area.

“What we are looking at is heritage-specific interventions, service delivery infrastructure, engagement with the community and poverty alleviation vis-à-vis city wide improvement,” says K. Srinivas Rao, additional director, Heritage, GHMC.


The Hindu Musi River in Hyderabad. Photo: G.Ramakishna

This apart, development of the 3.5-km stretch between Puranapul and Chaderghat is also on the anvil. The Musi river front on both sides of the road would be developed with driveways, landscaping and promenades. A retaining wall in traditional stonework too would be raised.

For this, authorities have to remove some encroachments and acquire land in the Musi river bed, which is now being used for cultivation of grass. City College, State Library and Osmania General Hospital – all heritage structures – will also get a facelift.

GHMC also plans to take up the CPP left-over works such as Gulzar Houz to Charminar stretch, signage and improvement of heritage walk routes. Besides the Puranapul to Golconda road, which has several heritage structures such as Toli Masjid, domes, mosques and temples too would be restored.

[Gudavalli]

Musi to get French help

The mayor and the commissioner met delegates of Bordeaux Urban Community to discuss the river rejuvenation project.

A French delegation headed by Christine Bost, vice-president, Bordeaux Urban Community, France, has called on the mayor and GHMC commissioner in their chambers on Monday. The delegation met them in connection with the Musi Rejuvenation project, being taken up as part of the government’s National River Conservation Programme (NRCP).

Mayor Mohammed Majid Hussain said that the co-operation of Bordeaux Urban Community, France, will catalyse the Musi Rejuvenation project, which will be taken up by the GHMC.

While interacting with the delegates, the mayor explained how the old drainage system of Hyderabad, built by the Nizams 100 years ago, is still able to control the current sewerage system. He added that there was need to improve the facility for the benefit of the public. He also assured that he will be looking forward for the mutual technical exchange between both the cities and hoped that this relationship would go a long way in creating new avenues for the younger generation of the City.

MT Krishna Babu, commissioner, said that protection of Musi River will be taken up in two phases; first being the improvement of water quality in Musi river and the second being protection and development of recreational places on the riverfront. He said that GHMC has jurisdiction over 21.5 km that the Musi river flows through, and that the corporation is planning to develop the river with the support of NRCP within three years.

Reacting to the proposal of agreement by French delegates, he said that GHMC will be writing to the AP government for seeking approval for entering a mutual technical agreement with the French organisation.

[Gudavalli]

French team shows interest in Musi Rejuvenation Project

In a major fillip to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), the Bordeaux Urban Community of France has evinced keen interest on contributing to the Musi Rejuvenation Project.

The civic body has undertaken the three-year project as a part of the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP). The French delegation, headed by Vice-President of Bordeaux Urban Community Christine Bost, called on Mayor Majid Hussain and Commissioner M T Krishna Babu at GHMC office on Monday.

Reacting to the proposal of mutual agreement by French delegates, the Commissioner replied that the GHMC would be writing to the State government for permission to enter into a mutual technical agreement with Bordeaux Urban Community. The mutual technical exchange between both the countries would go a long way in creating new avenues for the younger generation of the city, Majid Hussain observed.

Krishna Babu said that that the protection of the Musi river (covering 21.5 km in GHMC limits) would be taken up in two phases. In the first phase, the quality of the river water would be improved. In the second phase, recreational places would be developed on the river front.

[World8115]

Clean Musi, 21.5 km of riverfront and RRs on both sides, I hope that day comes soon

[pilate]

http://www.slideshare.net/umeshvarma...beautification
Came across this presentation. Most of the deadlines look very old.. but interesting presentation.

[srinuvelu]

HYDERABAD: After several false starts on the Musi revitalization plan, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has finally decided to take up the mega project soon. The 21-kilometre stretch between Bapughat and Nagole would not only be rid of encroachments and stink, but would also be made a recreation zone on the lines of Necklace Road in a couple of years at a cost of Rs 752 crore.

Consultant Aarvee Associates, engaged by the GHMC, has recently submitted detailed project report (DPR) on Musi river revitalization , which would be sent to the Union ministry of environment and forests (MOEF) since funds are being released under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP).

Some works under 'Save Musi' project like construction of rubber dams and diversion of sewer lines into the river were carried out both by the Corporation and Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) three years ago. However , some works like development of river drives and removing encroachments were not completed. Under the new plan, flood retaining walls along the river banks from Bapughat to Nagole would be constructed. These retaining walls would take care of flood in the river besides preventing encroachments on the river front. It has been proposed to improve river drives on south bank of Bapughat to Attapur, Golnaka bridge to Amberpet STP and Nagole bridge to Nagole STP.

The other works being planned under the project are re-sectioning of riverbed to improve carrying capacity of the river, remove sludge from the riverbed, provision of drains, approach roads, parks, bathing ghats, crematoria, graveyards in addition to renovating the existing ones. Plans have also been prepared to provide more platforms and steps leading to the river at bathing ghats and crematoria.

It has been proposed to develop parks at four places and provide adequate number of benches, lighting and landscaping of park area with fountains, flowerbeds, commercial activities like kiosks, food courts, public information centres etc. Renovation of park near Nagole bridge, including additional two-lane road bridge for better connectivity , and seamless enter-exit facility to the park. To maintain river water pool, it has been proposed to construct two rubber dams at Nagole in addition to the existing two opposite Salarjung Museum and the High Court.

GHMC officials said the MoEF had agreed to support the Musi revitalization plan a couple of years ago after inspecting the entire river area and okayed the proposal . Then, the consultant was engaged for preparation of DPRs in November last. "The Rs 752-crore project will be implemented in two phases. In the first phase, works between Bapughat and Nagole bridge will be taken up at a cost of Rs 493 crore, while in the second phase works near Nagole bridge and Nagole STP will be taken at a cost of 258 crore. The Centre will bear 70% of the cost, while the state government has to bear the rest, 30%, of the project cost," GHMC commissioner MT Krishna Babu said.


Rubber dam on the Musi river in Hyderabad, India

Charakteristics:
Rubber dam in km 22,1 is part of revitalization the Musi river in Hyderabad

Lokality:
Weir km 22,1 on the Musi river, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India

Pöyry´srole in the project:
Detail design (technological part)

Supply and erection of Rubber dam
and other equipment

Supervision (2009)

Commissioning: 2009

Contact person
Oldrich Neumayer
Head of the Department 332 - Hydroengineering II.
oldrich.neumayer@poyry.com

Ivo Vaněk
ivo.vanek@poyry.com

[World8115]

Musi revival project makes no progress

The Musi is dirtier than what it was a year ago. And there are no signs that it would be free of sewage, as had been promised by the government, in the near future.

The Intersection and Diversion units (ID) which were installed to divert incoming nalas or sewage lines, to treatments plants, have been rendered defunct owing to their labor intensive operation.

The 'Abatement of Pollution of River Musi' was a project sanctioned by the National River Conservation Directorate of Ministry of environment and forests in 2005. The project was split into two phases. Partly funded by the state government, its implementation was entrusted to the HMWSSB. In the first phase, four Sewerage Treatment Plants (STP), 35.36 km of conveying lines (to STPs) on the south and the north banks of the river, and 16 ID units were installed by the water board at a cost of Rs 400 crore.

The ID units became functional in 2009 with the completion of the phase one of the project. Each one of

ID unit collects water from a single nala flowing towards the river, detains wastes and de-silts the water before letting it flow into the intersectional pipelines that run along either side of the river. Each of the units require at least two men to remove the accumulated wastes and to allow effective functioning of the filtering mechanism at the units. If the units are not de-silted regularly, the nala water floods the units and makes a free run to the river, defeating all efforts to keep the latter clean.

In April this year the contractor in charge of the units on the High Court to Salar Jung Museum stretch refused to continue work as the water board had not cleared the bills. TOI had reported the run off while drawing attention to the damage that the murky water had caused to the river and the promenades that were developed by the GHMC along the banks. But nothing has changed.

This e stretch between the High Court and Salar Jung Museum has four units where sand bangs have been placed at the mouth of the units to prevent water from flowing out of the unit. However all efforts to contain nala water and divert it to the intersectional pipes have failed as de-silting is not taking place.

When contacted, HMWSSB officials maintained that labour is being employed regularly to de-silt the units. But they failed to explain the run off. "We are employing two men regularly to de-silt the units. It is not possible to keep up the activity all day long as it is labor intensive," said an official.

According to experts unless the Water and Sewage Board takes up the pollution of the Musi river seriously, nothing is going to change. For instance, one of them said, the board should ensure deployment of necessary labour force and monitor the work regularly to get desired results. Or, it should change the de-silting and waste removal from manual to automated system immediately.

[Gudavalli]

Musi flood level fixed

GHMC to finish markings in 2-3 weeks

The concerted efforts of the government to restore the Musi or Muchkunda river to its past glory have taken a quantum leap with the technical committee, comprising engineer-in-chiefs from irrigation, water board and other departments, finalising the maximum flood level(MFL) of the river as 1.76 lakh cusecs.

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has been given the responsibility of fixing the MFL limits along 40-km stretch of the river, from Osmansagar-Himayatsagar to Nagole, within the coming two-three weeks.
The MFL was finalised based on revenue records pertaining to the last hundred years.

The need for demarcating the maximum flood level (MFL) had arisen as Musi had been shrinking by the day and the revenue authorities were clueless about its boundaries. Ironically, the revenue authorities neither have proper records nor any idea even about the extent of government and patta lands on the riverbed.
As a result, there is a big confusion over the ownership of land on the riverbed, as some people have encroached upon it over the last three decades. Most encroachments and private lands are seen in Amberpet,

Saidabad, Bahadurpura, Charminar, Nampally and parts of Asifnagar and Golkonda mandals. While some people have erected temporary structures on the encroached land, others have constructed permanent structures.
However, GHMC Commissioner MT Krishna Babu said that the fixing of MFL, besides enabling construction of the retaining walls, would give a clear picture about the extent of encroachments on the Musi river.
According to previous surveys, around 1,500 houses have come up on encroached areas of the riverbed over the years. The occupants of thesehouses would be rehabilitated by allotting them houses being constructed by the government at Bandlaguda and Mallapur. The construction works were in an advanced stage, he added.

As regards acquiring patta land on the demarcated river bed was concerned, the civic body would pay land compensation. For agricultural lands, the government had decided to pay twenty times of yearly income on agricultural produce, Krishna Babu said. He further stated that the state government had sent proposals seeking Central Governmentâ’s assistance to the tune of Rs.593 crore for rejuvenation of the Musi on the lines of Sabarmati River in Gujarat.

Musi River, which is a tributary of Krishna River, flows through a major portion of the city. It originates in Anantagiri Hills near Vikarabad, Ranga Reddy district, 90 km to the west of Hyderabad. It joins the Krishna River at Pangal in Nalgonda district after covering a total distance of about 240 km. Although it was known as Muchukunda river in the olden days, it was later changed to Musi. This water body, which initially

met the water and irrigation needs of the city, has of late become a polluted drain.

[Prodigist]

I hope they can do this exercise without any political interference.

[Gudavalli]

Finally, clean-up plans for river Musi

HYDERABAD: The authorities have finally decided to check the additional sewage inflow into the river Musi catchment area. Towards that end, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) wants to construct 10 Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs) in order to check the pollution of the Musi at a cost of Rs 900 crore.

The project, in fact, was mooted in 2011 but has been able to make little headway so far. Now, worried over the unchecked and increasing inflow of sewage into the Musi, the Water Board has sent a detailed project report (DPR) to the finance department to secure clearance on debt sustainability. "We sent the DPR to the finance department two days ago. Once the state government gives the assurance on debt sustainability, the DPR will be forwarded to the Union ministry of environment & forests (MEF) for release of Rs 900 crore funds needed for the construction of the STPs," Water Board director, projects, M Satyanarayana, told TOI.

The STPs are to come up as part of phase II of the National Rivers Conservation Directorate ( NRCD) project. The 10 locations where the STPs have been proposed are Amberpet, Nagole, Nallacheruvu, Hydershah Court, Attapur, Mir Alam, Fatehnagar, IDPL Township, Nagaram (Kapra) and Kuntur (Hayathnagar). According to the DPR, a 75-km length mains will be laid for the proposed STPs and that interception and diversion structures will be constructed at eight locations.

On the issue of land for the STPs, officials said they have their own land for the locations in Amberpet, Nagole, Nallacheruvu, Hydershah court, Attapur, Mir Alam and Fatehnagar but would need to acquire the same for the other locations like IDPL Township, Nagaram and Kuntur. "We are searching for suitable land that is not caught up in litigation," the official said. Once the STPs come up, sewerage pollution in the heart of the city will be greatly reduced, he added.

STPs have become necessary because of increasing water pollution caused by rapid urbanization and additional sewage flows being generated in the GHMC area and Musi catchment area.

As per records, GHMC generates around 1,032 MLD of sewage most of which is drained into the Musi river which flows through the heart of the city.