Hyderabad: Telangana IT and Industries Minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu on Saturday reaffirmed that the state will move forward with the Musi river rejuvenation project “without going back,” despite opposition.
Speaking at the South Zone Conference of the Institute of Town Planners India (ITPI) at Park Hyatt, Banjara Hills, the Minister acknowledged that resistance to major initiatives is common. However, he stressed that the Musi project would move ahead for the benefit of future generations. “Telangana will become a role model in water resource conservation,” he said.
Minister stresses urban planning as key to sustainable growth
Sridhar Babu highlighted that urban planning is the backbone of economic prosperity. He insisted that development must go hand in hand with environmental responsibility. “Constructing buildings alone is not growth. Every policy we draft, every forest we safeguard, every river we restore, and every livelihood we support these are acts of inter-generational justice,” he noted.
He also outlined Telangana’s achievements in expanding urban greenery, promoting carbon-neutral growth, conserving water, and improving sustainable transport. Moreover, he stressed the role of technology in building climate-resilient cities.
The Minister urged planners to factor in key challenges such as climate change, urban flooding, pollution, falling groundwater levels, shrinking green spaces, and rapid urbanisation.
Themed “Policies and Strategies Towards Biophilic Urbanism,” the conference saw participation from ITPI President N.K. Patel, Secretary General Kul Shrestha, Coordinator (Techno Admin) Pradeep Kumar, and Telangana Regional Chapter Chairman S. Devender Reddy. Secretary K. Muralidhar Reddy and other urban planning experts also attended the event.
The rejuvenation of the Musi river is not just a project but a mission for Telangana’s future, and there will be no going back on it. Whenever a good initiative is taken, there are always forces that try to obstruct it. But our government firmly believes that for the sake of… pic.twitter.com/7JV9SYzzEb
— Sridhar Babu Duddilla (@OffDSB) August 23, 2025
