Hyderabad: Scam alleged in sale of film flats
The state government had allotted 67.18 acres in 1993 to cine workers through GO 658.
Hyderabad: The cooperative society at the Chitrapuri Colony is allegedly violating government orders while allotting flats to cine workers. The process has drawn a caution from cinematography minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav.
During a recent visit to the colony, Mr Yadav said: “It has come to our notice that many irregularities are taking place in the Chitrapuri Colony Housing Society. We will take stringent action against erring persons.”
The state government had allotted 67.18 acres in 1993 to cine workers through GO 658. It mandated that half the plots should be allocated to local workers and technicians in 24 categories and the rest to eligible members from other states working in the Telugu film industry.
Several workers from other states had migrated to Hyderabad when the industry shifted to the city from Chennai at that time. The then secretary to the government M. Narayana Rao had insisted on several conditions based on GO 1409 released on August 19, 1978.
Sources said the society functioned properly till 2000, but took a commercial approach when the land value rose to Rs 14 crore per acre after 2004.
The society signed an MoU with a builder to construct flats, and began selling it at market rates: 455 sq. ft flat for Rs 7.5 lakh, 750 sq. ft flat for Rs 12 lakh and 1,100 sq ft flat for Rs 20 lakh.
The issue came into light when activist P. Suresh obtained the documents through a query filed under the Right to Information Act.
“The government gave land to the society at Rs 40 per square yard, why is it selling flats at market value?” he asked.
Meanwhile, several allegations against the society reached the government. Some members also claimed the society had given flats to those who were not in the industry. Members alleged that names were being added and removed since 1993 in Chitrapuri Colony.
As per the rules, a three-member committee — comprising the information and public relations commissioner, cooperative societies’ registrar and the Ranga Reddy collector — should select beneficiaries for flats or plots.
The society did not consider workers from other states as directed and picked almost all beneficiaries from the erstwhile AP, the members alleged.
But society president
K. Venkatesh maintained that there were no irregularities during allotment.
“The construction of flats is over. We are giving a chance to new members. There are 15,000 cine workers in the state of whom 4,500 are members. We have allotted flats to 2,500 beneficiaries in phases,” he said.