Hyderabad: The state government has instructed the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority to issue building permissions in Uppal Bhagat, which is in the GHMC jurisdiction. The move appears less to rescue the HMDA which is facing a financial crunch and more to fund the Musi Riverfront Development Corporation.
The HMDA is expected to earn Rs 110 crore by issuing building permissions on 435 acres of land in Uppal Bhagat. The government has asked the HMDA to transfer Rs 100 crore with immediate effect to the Musi riverfront corporation.
This comes just when the HMDA appears to be coming out of the red for the first time in its history. The HMDA had developed plots in 435 acres in Uppal Bhagat to compensate farmers who had lost their land to the Musi riverfront development and Metro Rail projects. Farmers got 1,000 sq yards of developed land for each acre that was acquired. As many as 13,000 plots were allotted to the landowners.
The HMDA has set a target of Rs 110 crore by selling 1,110 plots of sizes ranging from 200 square yards, to 1,000 square yards in the remaining area at Uppal Bhagat. Sources said that the government has been not only denting the income of HMDA but also GHMC, the nodal agency to issue building permissions in its jurisdiction, to take up the Musi riverfront work by the MRDC, a special purpose vehicle created for loans and other funds.
Asked about the Uppal Bhagat issue, a senior official said the HMDA was the sole agency to issue building permissions. Due a staff crunch in the HMDA, the power was delegated to the GHMC in its jurisdiction.
“The HMDA can issue permission not only in Uppal Bhagat but also for all land parcels which will be pooled by the authority,” the official said. Asked about the HMDA being asked to transfer cash to the MRDC, the official said it was a government’s decision.
Under Phase-I of the Musi riverfront development planned to be completed by March next, the five-km stretch between Puranapul and Chaderghat would be developed and beautified. Under the Phase-II, a separate Musi corridor is proposed with East-West connectivity in the form of skyway.
