Musi River Historic Structures Featured on 2025 World Monuments Watch List

The Musi River Historic Buildings in Hyderabad have been added to the 2025 World Monuments Watch list by the World Monuments Fund (WMF), acknowledging the urgent need for their preservation amid environmental pressures such as the river’s pollution and rapid urban growth. This selection comes as the Telangana government works to revitalize both the Musi River and the heritage structures along its banks, focusing on heritage conservation and environmental sustainability. 

Key Points:

World Monuments Watch Inclusion
The Musi River Historic Buildings were officially added to the list on January 15, 2025, among 25 sites globally that face threats from human and environmental factors.

Notable Heritage Structures
Important historic landmarks along the Musi River include:

• Telangana High Court
• State Central Library
• Osmania General Hospital
• British Residency (part of Koti Women’s College)
   

Environmental and Ecological Challenges
The Musi River faces severe pollution, which impacts the surrounding environment and the heritage buildings located on its banks.

Government Efforts
The Telangana government, through the Musi Riverfront Development Corporation Limited (MRDCL), is focused on rejuvenating the river. Restoration projects have already begun on several buildings, including the State Central Library and British Residency.

World Monuments Fund’s Role
The WMF is dedicated to preserving these sites, focusing on environmental conservation and climate adaptation. They have allocated $2 million to support preservation activities in collaboration with local partners.

Community Engagement
The government aims to involve private sector partners in conservation efforts, with plans to enhance tourism and provide social benefits through adaptive reuse of the historic structures.

Future Strategies
Over the next two years, the WMF will assess the needs of the listed sites and develop strategies for advocacy, preservation, and fundraising to ensure their protection for future generations.

Musi River Details

• The Musi River is a tributary of the Krishna River, flowing through Telangana.
• It originates from the Anantagiri Hills, converging from two rivulets (Esi and Musa), and joins the Krishna River near Wazirabad.
• Dams like Himayat Sagar and Osman Sagar are built on the river, which divides Hyderabad into old and new parts.
   

About the World Monuments Watch
Launched in 1996, the biennial program highlights sites at risk due to factors like tourism, conflict, climate change, and natural disasters. Other Indian sites on the list include Gujarat’s Bhuj Historic Water Systems, which faces risks from water crises and climate change.