Four groups claim same land worth Rs 600 crore in Vengalrao Nagar, HYDRAA steps in and reclaims it
The land, in the heart of the city and estimated to be worth around Rs 600 crore, was fenced off on Wednesday after clearing recent encroachments.
By Newsmeter Network
Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) has secured nearly 3 acres of prime government land in Vengalrao Nagar, Khairatabad mandal.
The land, in the heart of the city and estimated to be worth around Rs 600 crore, was fenced off on Wednesday after clearing recent encroachments.
Land meant for public use under threat
The Andhra Pradesh Housing Board had acquired about 45 acres of land before 1975 after compensating the original landowners.
A layout comprising 660 plots was developed, with a portion earmarked for parks and public utilities. Around 5 acres along the main road in Vengalrao Nagar were specifically reserved for public use.
Over time, nearly 2 acres of this land were encroached upon and permanent structures came up. The remaining 3 acres, which had remained vacant until recently, became the latest target of encroachers.
Encroachments despite court stay
Multiple groups claimed ownership of the land, including individuals who had already received compensation from the Housing Board.
HYDRAA officials conducted a detailed verification of documents submitted by the claimants and found that none possessed valid ownership records.
The matter is also under litigation, with the Telangana High Court having issued a stay order, clearly prohibiting any activity on the land.
However, violations continued, with new huts, sheds and commercial activities emerging on the site. Following complaints from locals and media reports, HYDRAA intervened and cleared the encroachments.
Fencing and signboards installed
After removing illegal structures, HYDRAA fenced the entire 3-acre land parcel and installed boards declaring it as government property to prevent further encroachments.
Multiple claimants but none of them valid
The dispute over the land has a long history involving multiple claimants:
- A person named Ramaswamy, who had earlier obtained General Power of Attorney (GPA) from residents of the 2-acre portion allocated to hut dwellers (as per Supreme Court orders), allegedly extended claims to the remaining 3 acres.
- Brothers David Raju and Devasahayam claimed the land was sold to them by a jagirdar named Lakshman Rao, though no such ownership exists in government records.
- Representatives of an RKV group claimed they acquired rights through the heirs of Rahmatullah (the original seller to the Housing Board), via agreements made in Latur, Maharashtra.
- Another individual, K Rajesh, also made similar claims.
Officials noted that all these claims lacked legal validity.
Political links alleged
Reports suggest that several political figures may be backing different claimant groups, further complicating the dispute.
Despite this, HYDRAA proceeded with enforcement after confirming the absence of legitimate ownership documents.
Swift action to protect public assets
With encroachments increasing and legal ambiguities being exploited, HYDRAA’s action is being seen as a decisive step to safeguard valuable public land in Hyderabad.
