Telangana: Cash-strapped govt plans to sell 2,200 acres, net Rs 20,000 crore

HYDERABAD: The government has decided to resume over 2,200 acres of unutilised land worth Rs 20,000 crore in a fresh bid to fill its coffers. The land parcels had earlier been allotted to various government institutions. These land parcels would be handed over to the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TSIIC) to pave the way for auctions soon.
Officials said though the government has started identifying land suitable for sale from this February itself, it could not go ahead with the exercise due to coronavirus pandemic in the last three months.
The revenue administration has identified 2,080 acres allotted to Deccan Infrastructure and Land Holdings Limited (DILHL) in various areas like Qutbullapur, Hayatnagar, Moinabad, Koheda, Shamshabad, Ghatkesar, Ibrahimpatnam, Keesara, Medchal and Saroornagar. “The then Congress government had transferred 2,084 acres to DILHL in 2007 and 2008 for taking up joint venture projects, especially construction of integrated townships under public-private partnership (PPP). Of the total land, only four acres was utilised and the rest of the land is still vacant,” a senior official of the revenue department told STOI. Apart from this, 77 acres in Khanamet and Budvel villages in Rajendranagar will be transferred to TSIIC from HMDA and Vdotc, a gated community.
The government has already indicated that it would get rid of unutilised and non-performing assets by selling them and use the amount for projects and implement schemes.
Officials said the revenue department had identified assigned land given to farmers in prime areas, especially Rangareddy and Medchal a few months ago and auction the land at market rate. The assigned land was given to farmers several decades ago for cultivation purposes and they cannot enjoy ownership rights. The government is now planning to take over the land by paying compensation to the farmers and sell it later.
The Rangareddy administration has identified 1,450 acres in Kongara Khurd, Thummaloor, Raviryal (near Shamshabad airport) villages in Maheshwaram mandal, Madhapur in Kandukur mandal and Rayannaguda in Shamshabad mandal. The land worth is about Rs 3,580 crore. HMDA is also planning to auction 600 acres in Kokapet.