Asks public to report on encroachments to govt
Hyderabad: Transport and backward classes minister Ponnam Prabhakar led officials to reclaim a 12-acre parcel of government land in Survey No. 102/1HAK/1 in Banjara Hills from encroachers. The plot, valued at several crores, lies opposite the ACB office and had become a target for land sharks.
Accompanied by collector Anudeep Durishetty, the RDO, MRO and other revenue officers, the minister personally oversaw the demolition of all unauthorised structures on the site. “The government will take stringent action against antisocial elements who encroach on public land across the city,” Prabhakar told this newspaper.
He announced plans to convert the reclaimed land into a public amenity. Prabhakar, incharge minister for Hyderabad, said Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy would take a final call on how to develop the prime land keeping in view the interests of people.
“The land released today will be developed as a park or ‘lung space’ — anything that benefits the people,” he said. Reflecting on past mismanagement, the minister added, “Due to the previous government’s negligence, we lost so much precious land to land sharks.”
The State government launched Bhu Bharathi portal replacing Dharani portal, which was earlier a one stop destination for agricultural land transactions. As the new portal became operational, the people can brought to the notice of officials about the encroachment of government lands across the State.
A few days ago, Durishetty had inspected the site and reviewed the progress of fencing works. He also inspected the work done by differential global positioning system (DGPS) to determine the boundaries of the government land and to prevent any encroachment on the land. Galvanized sheets and poles costing Rs 35 lakh were used to protect the land.
Reiterating the government’s commitment, Prabhakar pledged, “We will clear all illegally occupied government lands and repurpose them for citizen utility and green spaces.” He also urged residents to report any further encroachments: “I call on people to inform us if they spot unauthorised developments.”
