In a significant decision aimed at resolving long-standing land and revenue disputes, the Telangana government has announced a multi-pronged strategy. The plan involves selling small housing board plots, regularising additional land held by homeowners, and implementing stricter controls over leases and rentals to safeguard public assets.
Sale of Plots and Land Regularisation Plan
Housing Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, after reviewing housing department matters on Monday, issued key directives. Officials have been instructed to prepare a comprehensive report on the proposed sale of housing board land measuring up to 100 square yards that is adjacent to existing housing board houses. This proposal also includes the regularisation of earlier additional allotments of such land.
The minister has asked officials to compile crucial data, including prevailing market prices, sub-registrar market values, and details of plots below 100 square yards. The report will also cover unregistered plots and cases where owners are seeking registration of adjoining land. All these compiled issues will be presented before the state cabinet for a final decision.
Crackdown on Lease Disputes and Revenue Recovery
The review meeting also focused on numerous disputes involving housing board properties related to leases, agreements, rents, and ongoing court cases. Minister Reddy instructed officials to draft a clear action plan covering lease renewals, commercial use permissions, rent collection, and regularisation processes. A core objective is to ensure housing board land is protected from encroachment or misuse.
Officials informed the minister that since the Nizam era, housing board land has been leased to 115 institutions, including educational establishments, residential and commercial units, schools, and temples. Court cases and rent arrears are pending concerning seven such sites. The minister directed that notices be issued to institutions that have failed to renew their lease agreements, giving them a chance to regularise their occupation.
Addressing Vacant Shops and Unpaid Dues
The review highlighted significant revenue losses from housing board shops across the state. Officials stated that of the 301 commercial shops under the board, 14 were sold to shop owners in 2007. From the remaining 287 shops, a concerning 62 are currently vacant. As per housing board rules, shop owners must renew their leases annually with a 10% increase in rent.
Due to widespread non-compliance, the board is owed crores of rupees in unpaid dues. To address this, the minister suggested exploring the sale of shops at market rates to existing traders willing to purchase them. Shops deemed not viable for business could be auctioned off.
Strengthening Legal Standing and Final Directives
To bolster the board's legal position, the minister advised appointing a special advocate to effectively pursue pending court cases and secure housing board lands. He reiterated the directive that plots below 100 square yards adjoining housing board houses should be sold to interested homeowners.
Furthermore, those who have not registered their allotted plots should be given an opportunity to do so. If these homeowners choose to purchase the adjoining land, they should be allowed to register the entire plot in a single transaction, simplifying the process.
This sweeping initiative by the Telangana government seeks to clear decades-old administrative logjams, unlock revenue, and provide clarity to homeowners and institutions while firmly protecting state-owned housing assets from misuse.
