Encroachment of govt land in Banjara Hills MLA Colony exposes ‘flaws’ in regularisation process

Hyderabad: A land dispute in Banjara Hills MLA Colony has brought encroachments to the forefront of public complaints in HYDRAA Prajavani on Monday.

Residents alleged that a 100-square-yard government plot on Road No 12, located between two private plots, was being illegally occupied.

While one person applied for regularisation after encroaching on part of the land, another allegedly grabbed over 70 square yards without any application and even built a room.

The complainant said that despite paying the required Layout Regularisation Scheme (LRS) fee and keeping his application pending in the MRO office, his neighbour went ahead with outright encroachment.

The case has highlighted the alleged double standards in land regularisation and the unchecked land grab in prime city colonies.

Other complaints pile up

Altogether, 48 complaints were received in HYDRAA Prajavani, with most relating to unauthorised road deviations, park space encroachments, violations in layouts, and misuse of open lands across the city.

Residents said that while individual plot owners with genuine approvals were often denied permissions, influential builders and private parties were freely altering layouts and expanding their properties in violation of planning norms.

Constructions in Gachibowli despite court orders

Residents of the Fertilisers Corporation of India Employees Cooperative Housing Society in Gachibowli accused Sandhya Convention owner Sridhar Rao of carrying out multiple constructions in violation of a High Court status quo order.

They alleged that roads and open spaces in the layout were being altered arbitrarily, while genuine owners with approvals were unable to build their houses.

Government land under threat in Gopanpally

The Bricks Skywoods Welfare Association complained that government land in Survey No. 178 of Gopanpally village (Serilingampally mandal) was being encroached upon.

They alleged that in December 2023, one Hamid demolished a boundary wall built by the government, felled trees and occupied the land. Although GHMC later reclaimed the plot and planted saplings, encroachments reportedly resumed.

Annarayana Cheruvu being filled in Medchal

Members of the Annarayana Cheruvu Protection Committee in Nagaram Municipality (Keesara mandal) reported that the lake was being illegally filled with construction waste.

They pointed out that this violated High Court orders clearly prohibiting dumping in water bodies. The residents warned of severe environmental damage and a threat to water resources if encroachments were not stopped.

Public utility land vanishes in Shaikpet

In the Sakku Bai Nagar layout, Shaikpet, residents complained that parks and roads earmarked in the original 25-acre layout had been converted into saleable plots.

Out of 16,158 square yards initially set aside for public amenities, only 13,282 square yards remained after a 2022 revision. Residents demanded restoration of the original allocation for community use.

Stormwater drain encroached in Begumpet

Residents of Begumpet’s Bhagwantpur area complained that a stormwater drain carrying rainwater from the airport had been encroached and filled with soil. As a result, houses in the locality were facing frequent inundation during monsoon rains.

Commissioner orders action

After verifying the complaints, HYDRAA Commissioner AV Ranganath has directed officials to verify the petitions and take follow-up action.