Leased lands to be regularised in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: The Telangana State government is working out the modalities for regularisation/freehold of lease properties, both residential and commercial, in Secunderabad and Hyderabad. The government hopes to rake in at least Rs 400 crore by converting the lease into freehold, which is pending for a long time.

The Hyderabad collector conducted a detailed survey of the lease lands/properties and submitted a report to the government, it is reliably learnt. In Jeera, Secunderabad, there are 134 plots on lease awaiting conversion to free hold and 427 in other areas. Of these, about 500 are residential and the rest, commercial. In Hyderabad, there are 42 lease properties, both residential and commercial.

The total number of lease properties in Secunderabad is 2,304, including some which were converted into freehold. Jeera had 6.05 acres of lease lands before 1952, which fell to 3 acres after that year. The 14.03 acres of lease lands fell to 6.01 acres in other places after 1952. “We are working out the modalities for converting lease hold lands into free hold. A nominal conversion charge will be levied. The government will take a decision soon,” a senior official said. Lease hold plots in Secunderabad retro-ceded are spread over 83 localities. The leases were granted from time to time from 1934 under the Secunderabad and Cantonment Land Administration Rules 1930 by the military estate officer prior to rendition of Secunderabad to the Nizam government by the Resident as the representative of the British government.

All the lease deeds that were executed were originally for 90 years, renewable at the option of the lessees for every 30 years with an enhancement of 50 per cent of the lease rent. Interestingly, of the 83 localities in Secunderabad having lease lands, 82 were converted into free hold barring Jeera where residents are holding leases for 80 years.

Mr Madapu Chandrasekhar, president, Secunderabad Town Improvement Trust Lease Land Holders Welfare Association, Jeera, along with office bearers had submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister requesting conversion of their lease lands into free hold.

“We requested the government to convert the leases into free hold without additional charges as we had paid the market value at the time of allotment in 1934 and later,” he said.

An estate officer served showcause notices in 2006 for resumption of land, but the matter was kept in abeyance following protests from lease holders.