Politicians ‘using’ governments order to encroach land in Telangana

Hyderabad: The Telangana state government’s order (GO. No, 58), which says that encroachment in the form of a functional building unit is to be considered for regularisation, has come as a boon for land grabbers.

It is being alleged that local politicians are encouraging their supporters to set up sheds (after the GO was released) in areas up to 125 sq yards. False certificates for the sheds showing possession dated back to June 2, 2014, along with electricity bills and Aadhaar number will then be submitted at the regional mandal revenue office. The land once regularised will then be sold at high rates.

Such a case has been reported on the Alwal lake, where following the GO, locals have erected a hut with asbestos sheets. In this particular case, the hut falls in the Full Tank Level of the Alwal cheruvu, and according to the Supreme Court orders the government should not regularise.

However, the state government should accommodate the encroachers at other suitable locations under the scheme. Certain resident welfare association members state that the GOs is a money-making business for the government and its officials. They said the encroachers will get a “gift” instead of facing penalties.

M.M. Padmanabha Reddy, the secretary of the Forum for Good Governance, said, “GO 58 for regularisation of encroached land up to 125 sq yards has been released without a survey by the government. Any individual can produce fake documents of ownership as on June 2, 2014. The GO is likely to be misused. It may be for the poor people, but will aid the violators, who have encroached government land.