Eviction Notice for Musi Project Sparks Protests at Bandlaguda Jagir Apartments

Hyderabad:The Rajendranagar revenue divisional officer (RDO) has issued notices to residents of Madhu Park Ridge Apartments at Bandlaguda Jagir, asking them to vacate the complex immediately for the Musi River project. In reaction, apartment owners have refused to vacate until the government explains the compensation and rehabilitation proposal.

Earlier this week residents also filed a writ petition in the Telangana High Court against the land acquisition.

Residents said the RDO could not give them an immediate answer when they sought clarity which is also why they had approached the High Court.

The fresh action has also revived questions over the government’s earlier position on the apartment complex. A land acquisition notification in February had included about 6.34 acres of Madhu Park Ridge land in Survey No. 89. Chief Minsiter Revanth Reddy later told the Legislative Council that the Gandhi Sarovar project could proceed without acquisition of the apartment land.

Anita, a resident of Madhu Park Ridge, said residents had submitted individual objections to the acquisition about five months ago and expected the recent RDO interaction to address them.

“Instead of discussing the objections we had given, he was talking about Award I and Award II and said that they would pay compensation. He was not asking for our suggestions or answering our objections,” she said, adding, “We said we are not willing to give our apartments at all. We don't want any compensation at the moment. We asked them to first answer the objections we have raised.”

She also questioned how the compensation would be fixed. Madhu Park Ridge has 425 flats across two blocks. She also said residents received very little time to appear before the revenue authorities, which caused difficulty for owners who were outside Hyderabad, senior citizens and those who needed assistance.

“At least one week's time should be given to us to attend. They are giving us a very short period, and the communication is also not being done properly,” she said.