Land lease expired 2 years ago

However, the lease period was extended two years ago following which the government in undivided AP had asked the Army to vacate the land and hand over the same to the government. But the Army has been refusing to do so even now.

After TS was formed in June last year, the government has sought a report on this issue from both the Ranga Reddy district administration and HMDA. Both had raised objections over extending the lease period and recommended taking back the land from the Army. RR district administration cited safety risk to residents of surrounding areas while HMDA cited proximity to ORR. Based on this, the TS government asked the RR district administration to initiate the process to reclaim the land. RR collector M. Raghunandan Rao issued orders to take over the land.

Tahsildar D. Devuja along with revenue staff tried to put up TS government boards on the land last week but were prevented by the Army personnel deployed there. Following this, the revenue officials approached defence estate officer, Secunderabad, A. Sekhar Babu who, too, expressed helplessness stating that unless he received specific orders from the defence ministry on this. The officials complained to RR collector, who took up the issue with government.

The government took serious view of the Army obstructing revenue officials from discharging their duties and denying them entry into the land even after lease period had expired two years ago. “The lease period of land has expired. But the Army continues to be in possession of the land. We are working to get back the land,” said Mr Raghunandan Rao.

TS has decided to take up the issue with the defence ministry.