In a major financial announcement, the Telangana government has projected a windfall gain from its newly implemented industrial land policy. Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Bhatti Vikramarka revealed that the state expects to earn a staggering ₹10,776 crore from the Hyderabad Industrial Land Transformation Policy (HILTP).
A Massive Leap in Revenue Generation
The figure announced on Tuesday represents a monumental increase compared to the revenue that would have been generated under the previous administration's policies. Bhatti Vikramarka stated that if the state had continued with the old land conversion and industrial reallocation policies of the BRS government, the expected revenue would have been a mere ₹570 crore.
This highlights a nearly 19-fold increase in potential earnings for the state exchequer. The minister provided a per-acre breakdown, explaining that without the new policy, revenue was capped at around ₹12 lakh per acre. Under the transformative HILTP, the state will now earn an impressive ₹7 crore per acre for industrial relocation.
Addressing Past Practices and Ensuring Transparency
During his assembly speech, the Deputy CM did not hold back in his criticism of the previous government's approach. He accused the BRS regime of granting ownership rights to private individuals on leased government lands at rates fixed by sub-registrar offices, a practice he implied led to significant revenue loss.
"We instructed industries to pay 30% to 50% above the standard rates, depending on the type of land, ensuring that the govt receives substantial revenue," Bhatti asserted. He emphasized that the current government is fully prepared to handle all transactions related to industrial land dating back to 2014.
Government's Preparedness and Historical Context
Bhatti Vikramarka urged the opposition to refrain from what he termed "irresponsible criticism" of a policy designed to generate significant revenue for Telangana. He offered a robust assurance of transparency, welcoming any written concerns and enquiries from any agency regarding all land transactions from 2014 up to the current HILTP.
Providing historical context, the minister noted that the groundwork for relocating industries outside Hyderabad was laid over a decade ago. He recalled that a committee was formed for this purpose by the then Congress government in 2012, which submitted its report in 2013.
The announcement positions the HILTP as a cornerstone of the state's industrial and fiscal strategy, aiming to maximize public resource utilization while addressing urban planning needs. The government's confident stance suggests it is ready for any political or administrative scrutiny of this high-stakes policy shift.
