HYDRAA begins drive to reclaim 317 acres of encroached govt land in Gajularamaram

Hyderabad: The Revenue Department, in coordination with the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) and with police assistance, has launched a massive operation to reclaim government land under encroachment in Survey No. 307 at Gajularamaram, Quthbullapur. The land, spread over 317 acres, has been under illegal occupation for several years.

Construction via illegal means

According to officials, large portions of the land were grabbed by real estate businessmen, politicians and influential individuals, who erected compound walls, sheds and other commercial structures. Investigations have revealed that several pattas (ORCs) obtained by the encroachers were fake and fabricated.

The operation follows a series of over half a dozen review meetings held in the past six months. Authorities made it clear that while large parcels of land under influential encroachers will be reclaimed, residential dwellings occupied by the poor will not be demolished.

Poor people are being taken advantage of

Officials said nearly 40 acres had been sold to poor families in small plots of 50 to 100 square yards by local politicians and officials in connivance with middlemen.

“Instructions have been issued to protect the homes of the poor. Our focus is on reclaiming lands illegally occupied by powerful individuals,” officials said.

More than 275 acres of land, which had been handed over to the State Finance Corporation (SFC) before 2014, will be taken back and secured with fencing. The estimated value of the reclaimed land is between Rs 12,000 and Rs 15,000 crore.

Authorities also announced that criminal action will be initiated against those who fabricated documents and sold government land to unsuspecting buyers. “We will probe into those responsible for creating fake documents and selling plots to the poor. The poor will not be disturbed,” officials reiterated.