Telangana all set to start land survey

Hyderabad: The Telangana government will conduct a state-wide survey, including in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts, to know the status of land allotments made by various government departments, availability of lands with the government, those given for setting up of special economic zones and industries to private parties and also to identify the extent of government land under encroachment. After assuming charge at the Secretariat on Sunday, deputy Chief Minister Md Mahmood Ali, who also holds the revenue ministry portfolio said that the survey would also include Wakf lands that had been given to companies and those under encroachment.

Regarding caretakers, Sajjadanasheens and Muthawallis of various dargahs who have been suspended by AP Wakf Board Special Officer S.M. Iqbal, the Dy CM said that the TRS government would protect the legitimate interests of religious scholars and those connected with dargah managements. He said that a helpline pertaining to revenue matters would be set up to solve problems being faced by people. The helpline would be monitored by an IAS officer and sufficient staff would be allotted to it. About land belonging to the Dargah Hussain Shah Vali allotted on a platter to private companies, Mr Ali said that nearly 1700 acre of Wakf land was under encroachment, and after proper survey and procedure, all government, Wakf and other departments’ lands under encroachment would be taken back.

Stating that no survey of government land had been conducted since 1957 and a survey that had been started in Nizamabad recently had remained incomplete, the deputy Chief Minister warned officials and staff against irregularities and corruption. “Officials found to be indulging in corruption will face serious consequences. The welfare of poor will be the main motto of the TRS government and all its schemes will be directed towards eradication of poverty and empowerment of the common man,” he said.

The deputy Chief Minister’s statement about conducting a survey of lands assumes significance as the TRS had opposed auction of land parcels and allotments made by the Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (HMDA), Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) and AP Housing Board (APHB) apart from land allotments to various firms in Ranga Reddy district. The APHB, HMDA and APIIC either sold or handed over land worth nearly Rs 5,000 crore between 2005 and 2010 in areas like Gachibowli, Kokapet, Shamshabad and Jubilee Hills for resource mobilization of the Jalayagnam and other projects.

Mr Ali added, “I will conduct a review meeting with the principal secretary of Revenue department and district collectors to know the land allotment details. The Cabinet will take a decision on land allotments and auctions done earlier. By no means should this land survey be taken as political vendetta. The TRS government is pro-development and if there are any anomalies or violation of norms, the government will look into them and deal with them as per law.”