Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s first all-party meeting on Tuesday bore mixed results with the Opposition backing the government’s move to enact a new law to take stringent action against land-grabbers in and around Hyderabad, while seeking more details on regularisation of lands.
The meeting okayed regularisation of encroachment of government lands by the poor of sizes ranging from 80 square yards to 120 square yards free of cost.
However, the Opposition parties were against regularisation of open government lands encroached by bigwigs and wanted it to be resumed immediately while going for selective regularisation of constructions, if needed.
According to conservative estimates, about 6,000 to 7,000 acre of prime government lands are under encroachment in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts.
Read: Telugu Desam, BJP thumb down Telangana CM’s Vinayaksagar plan
Another all-party meet will be held again on December 16, since the Opposition parties wanted the government to come up with proposals for regularisation of government lands, the list and names of encroachers, area under encroachment in Hyderabad and neighbouring Ranga Reddy district and number of illegal constructions and proposed levy of fees etc.
The Chief Minister promised to provide the details in two days for the parties to prepare for next meeting.
The MIM suggested that Mr Rao should involve religious leaders on the issue of encroachment of Wakf land and wanted the money accrued from regularisation to go to the Wakf Board.
The first full-fledged all-party meeting was convened by Mr Rao to discuss regularisation of government land encroachments in urban agglomeration of Hyderabad, bring in a new legislation to prevent grabbing of government and other lands, develop Vinayaksagar near Indira Park as an alternative for immersion of Ganesh, Durga idols and Bathukamma, alignment of Hyderabad Metro Rail etc. The meeting lasted for almost five hours.
Besides the CM, Deputy CM Mohd Mahamood Ali, home minister Nayani Narasimha Reddy and other ministers L. Ramana, E. Dayakar Rao (TD), K.R. Suresh Reddy, Bhatti Vikramarka (Congress), G. Kishan Reddy, Dr Laxman (BJP), Akbaruddin Owaisi (MIM), A. Indra Karan Reddy (BSP), Tammineni Veerabhadram, S. Rajaiah (CPM), Chada Venkat Reddy, Ravindra (CPI), senior officials, MPs, MLAs and others participated.
The CM explained the government’s efforts to make Hyderabad a global city and steps being taken in this regard, including saving the famed Hussainsagar Lake. “No city in the world is bestowed with such a beautiful lake like Hussainsagar. Unfortunately, the lake has been polluted. There is a wonderful opportunity for Telangana to gain economically through developments around the lake,” he remarked.
When some participants wanted the CM to make Hyderabad on a par with Singapore, the Chief Minister said Hyderabad had a distinct culture and stated, “Hyderabad should be Hyderabad, there is no need to compare it with Singapore.”
On land issue, TD leader E. Dayakar Rao said, “We don’t mind giving 120 square yards to the poor, but we strongly oppose regularisation of open lands held by bigwigs. Who have occupied it? What is the extent? What is the levy of fees? We oppose sale of government lands.”
