Relevance: GS I (Urbanization) & GS III (Environment) | Source: The Hindu
1. What is the Project?
The Musi River flows right through the center of Hyderabad. Sadly, for most of the year, it is just a large open drain for the city’s dirty water.
- The Plan: The state government wants to completely clean the river. They plan to build beautiful parks, walking spaces, and shopping areas on its banks.
- Geography Fact: The river starts in the Ananthagiri hills. It is formed when two small rivers (the Musa and the Esi) join together.
2. How Will They Fix the River?
- Adding Fresh Water: The Musi usually dries up after the rains. To keep water flowing all year round, the government will pump fresh water from the bigger Godavari River into the Musi.
- Stopping the Dirt: They will build many new Sewage Treatment Plants (cleaning factories). These will clean the dirty city drain water before it reaches the river.
- Financial Help: A big international bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), is giving money to help fund this massive city makeover.
3. Why are People Angry?
While cleaning the river is good for nature, it is causing big human problems:
- Making the Poor Homeless: To clear the river banks, the government is forcefully removing poor families who live in slums there. A group called Musi Jan Andolan is fighting against this.
- No Clear Plan: People are upset because the government is breaking homes without sharing a clear, public plan showing where these poor families will be safely shifted.
- The Main Challenge: City planners face a very tough choice: How to make a city beautiful and clean without destroying the lives of the urban poor.
UPSC Value Box
| Important Concept | Simple Meaning for Exam |
| Inter-basin Water Transfer | The process of moving extra water from a large river (like Godavari) to a dry river (like Musi) through canals and pipes to keep the dry river alive. |
| Right to the City | A human rights idea which says that poor city workers and slum dwellers should not just be thrown out to the city borders. They have an equal right to be part of the city’s development. |
| Asian Development Bank | An international bank that gives loans to Asian countries to help them build infrastructure (like clean rivers and roads) and reduce poverty. |
With reference to the Musi River and urban water management, consider the following statements:
- The Musi River originates in the Ananthagiri hills and flows through the city of Hyderabad.
- The Musi Riverfront project plans to use water from the Kaveri River to ensure a year-round flow in the river.
- ‘Inter-basin Water Transfer’ refers to the movement of water from a surplus river basin to a deficit river basin to maintain water availability.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Correct Answer: (c)
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