Musi River cleaning: Separate agencies, same consultant, same project

Hyderabad: Separate agencies individually paid a private consultant to prepare a detailed project report on Musi River cleaning and submitted the same to the Centre for funds approval. The Centre rejected the reports, stating that it needed an integrated and workable DPR that included all the corresponding agencies.

Agencies such as the Metro Water and Sewerage Board, GHMC and HMDA approached a single agency, Aarvee Consultants, for a report on the Musi.
Mr M. Padmanabha Red-dy, secretary for Forum for Good Governance, who had filed an RTI application, said, “In 2011, a DPR by Aarvee Consultants for the '750-crore Musi Phase II project was sent to the Centre by Metro Water and Sewerage Board. The government directed the state government to prepare an integrated and workable plan involving various agencies like the Water Board, GHMC, HMDA, horticulture department and the Pollution Control Board. Instead of an integrated plan, the Water Board, GHMC and HMDA again engaged Aarvee Consultants and prepared separate DPRs.”

He added that the consultant had quoted different estimates for different works. “For example for the HMWS&SB work, the estimate was '825.87 crore, while for the GHMC proposal it was '752.25 crore and for HMDA’s proposal '15,551.86 crore.”  

Following the funds not being approved by the Centre, the TS government is now contemplating loan assistance from a Korean firm. In 2001, the Water Board had engaged Aarvee Consultants to prepare a project report on “Abate-ment of Pollution of River Musi” and had submitted it to the National River Conservation Directorate of the Centre.

The project envisaged diversion of flows of 18 nalas carrying sewerage from the Musi to sewerage treatment plants and and for release into the river after treatment. The estimated cost was Rs 344 crore of which 70 per cent was provided by the Centre and the balance by the state government. Work started in 2001 and completed in 2008.

The GHMC took up construction of the rubber dam on Musi near the High Court complex at a cost of Rs 50 crore. Within six months of constructions of the dam, the area started stinking and the dam had to be dismantled, a waste of Rs 50 crore.

Sabarmati project ideal example of river cleanup
In spite of the Centre repeatedly cautioning the state government to send integrated and workable project reports so that funds under different schemes can be allocated, the HMDA’s detailed project report on the Musi could not win approval.

The Sabarmati River in Gujarat is an example wherein an integrated approach saved the river. Pollution levels of Musi have reached alarming proportions. The  Central Pollution Control Board has reported Musi as one of the most polluted rivers in the country.