The Forum for Good Governance has written to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, urging him to prioritise the cleaning and restoration of Musi river before proceeding with the proposed construction of places of worship and other structures along its course.
In a representation dated April 2, the organisation said while it appreciates the government’s intent to rejuvenate the river, undertaking construction activities without first addressing pollution concerns would be “objectionable”. The group referred to the recent foundation stone laid for a temple at Manchirevula on March 29 and the proposed construction of a 108-foot statue of Lord Shiva in the river, as well as plans to complete the Omkareswara temple within two years.
The forum highlighted that multiple attempts over the past two decades to clean the Musi have failed to yield results despite significant public expenditure. It pointed out that a pollution abatement scheme prepared by the Water Board in 2001, which received Centre’s approval, saw around ₹405 crore being spent without achieving the desired outcomes. Similarly, a rubber dam constructed near the High Court by the GHMC at a cost of ₹50 crore was later dismantled after proving ineffective.
