Hyderabad: Restoring the Musi River to its former grandeur and ensuring its water is drinkable are the primary goals of the Musi Rejuvenation Project, Telangana Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) Principal Secretary M. Dana Kishore said on Friday.
Speaking at the conclusion of a 13-day international urban workshop held at the Marri Channa Reddy Human Resources Development Centre, Kishore emphasized the state government’s commitment to transforming the Musi into a clean and sustainable water source.
The workshop was organized in partnership with the Musi Riverfront Development Corporation Limited (MRDCL), the French Development Agency, and Les Ateliers de Cergy.
Recalling the 16th-century French traveler Jean-Baptiste Tavernier’s description of the Musi River, Kishore noted that Tavernier had once compared the Musi to the Seine River in Paris. He even drew similarities between Hyderabad’s iconic Purana Pul bridge and Paris’s Pont Neuf.
“The government is determined to revive the Musi’s lost glory,” Kishore stated, adding, “Making its water drinkable is a shared goal. Hyderabad is on its way to becoming South Asia’s first city to achieve 100% sewage treatment.”
French Ambassador Thierry Mathou praised the initiative, describing Hyderabad as a city with the potential to set an example for integrating urban development with environmental conservation.
The event was attended by key officials, including MRDCL Joint Managing Director Pujari Gautami, Technical Executive Director Srinivas Reddy, Chief Engineer Dattu Panth, and Superintending Engineer Vidyasagar.
The Musi Rejuvenation Project is a significant step towards reclaiming the river’s historical importance while addressing environmental challenges.
-Rashmi Kumari
