Ponguleti Asks Officials to Let HB Tenants Renew Lease

During a meeting in the Secretariat on housing board lands, officials told the minister that since the Nizam's era, housing board lands have been leased to 115 institutions and court cases are pending over seven of these properties.

Srinivas Reddy instructed the officials to write letters to the institutions that have not renewed their lease agreements and provide them with an opportunity for regularisation.

The officials said the Housing Board owned 301 commercial shops in various parts of the state. While 14 were purchased by tenants under a scheme offered by the then government in 2007, the remaining 287 shops include 62 that are currently vacant.

According to Housing Board rules, each shop owner is required to renew their lease annually with a 10 per cent increase in rent, but since this rule has not been implemented, the housing board has to get crores of rupees from the shop owners.

If those currently operating the shops come forward to purchase them, Srinivas Reddy said plans should be drafted to sell them at market price. Similarly, if a shop is not suitable for operation, he said the land should be sold through auction.

Srinivas Reddy also suggested appointing a special advocate to present a strong argument in court cases to ensure that the lands in question belong to the Housing Board.