Prices skyrocket as Telangana buys sop land for dalits

Hyderabad: The agriculture land scheme for Dalit families, which was launched by the Telangana Rashtra Samiti government on August 15, has jacked up land prices in Telangana districts by three-five times within a month, putting the state government in a tight spot.

Nearly three lakh landless Dalit families have been identified, which was forced to shell out nearly Rs 37 crore to buy land from private individuals for distribution to just 512 Dalit families on August 15.

Since there are no government lands available, the government is left with no option but to buy land from private individuals, who increased prices to nearly Rs 8 to Rs 10 lakh per acre on an average.

The collectors were asked to search for agriculture lands costing less than Rs 3 lakh. They said that agriculture lands were not available for less than Rs 8 lakh per acre. Land, which did not fetch even Rs 2 lakh a acre till a few months ago, cost between Rs 8 and Rs 10 lakh per acre.

Chief Minister Mr K. Chandrasekhar Rao, who himself holds the portfolio of Welfare departments of SCs, STs, BCs and Minorities, took distribution of 3 acre of land to Dalits as a challenge and is keen to finish it successfully in the coming four years.

Mr Rao had said at a recent press conference: “The government is ready to spend up to Rs 2,500 crore per year for purchasing the land to implement the scheme. There is no question of going back on this. I am confident of achieving the goal in four years. All landless Dalit families will be provided with 3 acre agriculture land.”

The constant statements made by the Chief Minister and his ministers regarding purchasing land from private parties for the scheme has led to skyrocketing of land prices with land owners trying to take advantage of it

“The increase in agriculture land prices in districts is definitely a cause of concern for the government. But we are exploring ways and means to overcome the situation. There is no justification in price escalation of agriculture lands by three to five times since the Dalit land scheme was announced. We are ready to pay existing market price to owners but not unrealistic prices,” said irrigation minister T. Harish Rao.

Under the scheme, besides three acre land, the government will provide irrigation facilities, drip facilities, seed, fertilisers, pesticides, ploughing, micro irrigation, energisation and pumpsets for one crop a year in addition to providing funds for land development, preparation of nursery and agricultural inputs. The amount for meeting the cost of cultivation would be directly transferred into the accounts of the beneficiaries.

The cost escalation has been witnessed primarily in districts surrounding Hyderabad, especially Ranga Reddy, Medak, Nalgonda and Mahabubnagar, where the cost increased by five times.

In other districts, such as Nizamabad, Adilabad, Karimnagar and Warangal, the increase has been between two and three times.