Hyderabad: The regularisation of lands falling under the Urban Land Ceiling Act in GHMC limits has been giving sleepless nights to property owners.
Those who had bought lands decades ago and had built houses on them are coming forward for regularisation. But officials are insisting on payment as per existing market rate and many are unable to come up with the money, within such a short span.
Several owners, who have failed to pay the regularisation amount within the deadline, are receiving notices stating their plots will be taken back. Owners are also asking the government why they are being told to pay regularisation amounts as per existing rates though they had purchased these plots decades ago.
Most of these owners are now retired and living on pensions. The government issued GO 92 two months ago for regularisation of ULC lands. Those who has applied for regularisation were asked to pay the amount by August 29.
Applicants were asked to pay 25 per cent of the existing market price if the plot size was up to 250 sq. yards, 50 per cent for plots between 250 and 500 sq. yards, 75 per cent if the plots were over 500 sq. yards.
In the slums, applicants were asked to pay 10 per cent of existing market price if the plot size was below 125 sq. yards. The existing market price in Hyderabad is over Rs 30,000 per sq. yard. So applicants need to pay over Rs 18 lakh even to regularise a 250 sq. yard plot.
“I bought a 350-sq. yd plot in Ameerpet in 1992 by paying Rs 1,000 per sq. Now, I'm being asked to pay Rs 20,000 per sq. yard for regularisation. I need to shell out '35 lakh. How can I arrange such a huge amount within 2 months? We bought the plot in 1990s — officials must consider the market rate existing at that time for regularisation,” said Mr B. Mohan Rao, a retired employee.
A Mr Ch. Aravind, who owns a plot in Rajendranagar, said: “I got a notice of Rs 9 lakh and I live on my pension. How can I pay within a few days? Hundreds are facing a similar crisis. The government should consider slashing the basic market value and allow us to pay the amount in installments, at least,” he said.
Officials to take over 71 acres
Revenue officials have initiated steps to take back 71 acre of ULC lands in GHMC limits after owners failed to utilise the regularisation scheme. Several of these plots are also stuck in legal disputes. The city has 2,272 acres of ULC land, out of which 1,600 acres have constructions. Another 71 acre is lying vacant.
Despite reminders over the past two months, owners have failed to apply for regularisation. Notices were issued to 150 owners across 16 mandals. The most notices were issued in Shaikpet mandal. Officials have identified 180 plots in this mandal but only 97 owners have applied for regularization. While 347 land parcels measuring 1.51 lakh sq. yard have been identified by officials for regularization, just about 420 applications have been received for regularisation. Most of the ULC lands are in Bandlaguda, Bahadurpura, Saidabad, Asifnagar, Khairatabad, Shaikpet and Golconda mandals.
City MLAs — across parties — are bringing pressure on the state government to withdraw the notices and extend the deadline. They are also demanding reduction in the basic market value of the plots as people from middle and lower income groups cannot afford to regularize plots by paying up to Rs 30,000 per sq. yard.
