500 applications from people who own over 500 sq. yards in Hyderabad
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Hyderabad: Hectic lobbying is on to regularise expensive lands in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts that were encroached decades ago.
Around 500 applications were received from people holding more than 500 sq.yards belonging to the government for regularisation according to the Land Regularisation Scheme (LRS). These applications are pending with the government since 2002 as the TD government and the YSR government in 2002 and 2006 respectively refused to regularise them as they didn’t meet the norms stipulated under the LRS scheme.
The TS government is now planning to regularise these lands at the market rates in force when the applications were submitted earlier. This would mean undue benefit to applicants as they need to pay just Rs 6 lakh as fees against the Rs 3 crore now.
In fact these applicants had already paid regularisation fees ranging from Rs 4 lakh to Rs 6 lakh in 2002 and 2009. They are ready to forego the amount paid earlier and are ready to pay the same again if the government agrees to regularisation as per old market rates.
The TS government’s failure to provide clarity on pending LRS applications submitted in the undivided state is giving scope for irregularities now. Official sources said a significant number of the applications came from Shaikpet mandal under which comes posh areas like Banjara Hills, Jubilee Hills etc where land prices have hit astronomical levels.
Applicants are approaching local leaders offering huge commissions seeking regularisation and they in turn are lobbying with the government. The issue came up for discussion in the cabinet where LRS was debated.
KCR has directed ministers not to encourage lobbyists. However, the ground situation presents a different picture with lobbyists assuring applicants that they can get the work done at the lower regularisation fees which existed in 2002 and 2009.
TS yet to touch 10% land sale:
In the first TS Budget presented in the Legislative Assembly in November last year, the government had proposed to raise Rs 6,500 through sales of lands in 2014-15. However, it has failed to realise even 10 per cent of the targets so far though only two months are left in the 2014-15 financial year.
The government now believes that auctioning buildings at prime locations will definitely attract buyers and fetch huge revenues. The TS government is planning to sell its offices located in Basheerbagh, Khairatabad, Panjagutta, Himayatnagar, Barkatpura, Amberpet, Erramanzil, Masab Tank, Banjara Hills, Jubilee Hills, Abids, Lakdi-ka-Pul, SR Nagar, RTC Crossroads and Nampally.
These offices are located along the main roads and the government feels that they will fetch huge prices if auctioned. The government also hopes to generate sizeable revenue by auctioning prime lands in Masab Tank near the Polytechnic College, RR Zilla Parishad office in Khairatabad and Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy collectorates in Nampally and Lakdi-kaPul.
Selling the Lakeview Guest House may trigger a controversy as it was assigned to AP Chief Minister.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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