The demolitions on the Musi river bed, which instilled fear into the people, will not occur till each of the identified residents is persuaded to relocate along with a key to the supplied double slum quarters. However, illegal houses of the rich situated on other city’s wetland areas overwatered, will still be pulled down.
The sources in the government also stated that there would be no demolitions of any residential structures falling under the Full Tank Level (FTL) of lakes until Deepawali but those illegal constructions engaged in business would not be spared.
According to the report presented to the government by the Intelligence department, the feedback received from the citizens regarding the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) was quite favorable. However, political parties are creating a mixture of HYDRAA and people’s eviction of Musi riverbed to create panic among people. The report also revealed a builders’ lobby backing the agitations to fuel resentment. “Political parties agitating and supporting the affected people is understood and expected, but some real estate lobbies are working behind fuelling fear among people mixing HYDRAA and Musi beautification scheme,” a senior official revealed citing the Intelligence department inputs.
The government remains resolute in its no-fail policies to preserve lakes as well as in efforts to improve the Musi River since it is likely all the more beneficial for residents of old city once the project is complete. In conjunction with the Metro Rail extension, old city will benefit all, one of the officials said accepting the target has not really been achieved.
“Opposition was there in a similar manner when ICT- Cybarebad was coming up and the IT corridor was taking shape. The middle class from new city areas gained tremendously out of the IT boom while old city stood still and did not progress. M And ‘faith’ based of that of the old city inhabitants will be made irrelevant by the Musi beautification due to its positive impact on their lives,” an informed source aim for the senior official said.
As for the people, the government is not very fast to relocate them. Many happy households have so far shifted into the refurbished and newly allotted 2BHK houses. All expenses related to the relocation are being incurred by the government. A Kibera official involved in the process said, “We will persuade the people, some will be compensated if they are eligible and then we will relocate them.”
