Civil Society Groups in Hyderabad Question Musi Project Environmental Clearance

A consortium of environmentalists and civil society organisations under the banner of Musi Jan Andolan has raised serious concerns regarding the environmental clearance granted for the Musi Riverfront Development Project in Hyderabad.

On Monday, Musi Jan Andolan, an independent platform working to protect the river and riverside communities, convened a meeting with several civil society groups to examine the clearance approved by the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority. The groups flagged procedural issues and sought clarity on the basis on which approvals were issued for works linked to the riverfront development.

In a press release, the platform clarified that participating groups are not opposed to cleaning and rejuvenating the Musi. However, they raised critical questions over how the river is being redesigned, how ecological and flood risks were evaluated, whether project footprints and displacement figures are internally consistent, and whether the clearance process adequately addressed public and technical objections.

Members of Musi Jan Andolan stated that they oppose a development model that risks converting a living river into engineered water bodies and concrete landscapes.

The press release noted that the clearance should withstand rigorous public scrutiny, stating that existing documents leave fundamental questions unanswered. The platform urged the Telangana government, project proponents, and environmental authorities to pause, disclose, review, and correct the project plans before moving forward.