Khammam: Realtors are now eyeing lands given to weaker sections earlier due to rapidly increasing prices.
Colonies that were constituted for the poor now have turned part of the town and the value has shot up. Realtors are now resorting to all types of wile, guile and vile to get their hands on these properties, at the cost of the poor dwellers.
Initially, the poor will be offered a rate and asked to hand over the property. If they agree, the land will be transferred in the realtors’ names using their influence in the tahsildar office.
As per the rules, beneficiaries who get lands under weaker section land scheme should construct basement within one year after taking possession.
In case they could not do so, the government can cancel the patta and hand over the land to some other beneficiary.
As per available data, about 250 plots have been encroached this way. Lands belonged to beneficiaries with ‘connections’ will not be touched even if it remains vacant.
Mostly, the realtors get tipped off about the target lands by some officials in the revenue department. Revenue teams will visit the place and mark the land.
Later, the land will be allotted to the person suggested by the realtor. In some cases, duplicate pattas are being created and the former beneficiaries are evicted.
The poor, who have no knowledge about the documents, make rounds of revenue offices, to no avail. Such incidents are common held in YSR Nagar, Vikalangula Colony, Ramanagutta, all of these localities were once considered the outskirts of the town. After the Bypass Road was constructed, these areas are now prime property. It is learnt that many of the poor lost their lands to duplicate pattas.
M. Laxmi, a beneficiary who got land in YSR Nagar was encroached with the help of duplicate patta. She has lodged a complaint, but in vain.
