Public angry as delay in KUDA Master Plan halts development works in Warangal

Hyderabad: The Telangana government approved the Master Plan 2041 for the state's second-largest city, Warangal, which consists of three towns Warangal, Hanamkonda, and Kazipet, on 11 March. The state minister for municipal administration and urban development, K.T Rama Rao, has signed the documents approving the Master Plan which was prepared by the Kakatiya Urban Development Authority (KUDA). However, the public is alleging that delay in implementing the Master Plan has halted development works in the district. There was outrage after KTR failed to mention the ambitious project during a recent review meeting.

KTR held a review meeting on 4 June which was attended by Warangal and Khammam collectors and other municipal corporation members to discuss the immediate infrastructural development requirements in the state. However, there was no mention of the KUDA Master Plan. This has sparked outrage among the public.

“There was no mention of the gazette notification of the master plan during the meeting which is delaying construction activities. Development of the city has come to a standstill ever since the finalisation of the master plan which took over two years,” said a public representative.

The ambitious Master Plan 2041 that will cater to the public requirements of Greater Warangal until 2041 was expected to launch in the first week of January.

For years the public has raised objection against the plan over land acquisition concerns. A majority of those living in villages on the outskirts had also objected to the draft plan during an official public hearing organised by KUDA. They have submitted numerous petitions seeking redressal of their grievances, including replacing public and semi-public zones with residential zones. When Mamnoor village was declared a public and semi-public zone, around 200 farmers took to the streets in August 2018 and blocked the Warangal-Khammam highway. They were pacified by local TRS leaders.

According to KUDA, the Master Plan was developed keeping in mind the growth corridors and industrial zones that would be accommodated in the plan. Land pooling and transfer of land ownership were also considered while drafting the plan, it said.

The preliminary work on the Master Plan started in June 2017 and was notified in May 2018 for public reactions and objections under provisions of the Telangana Urban Areas (Development) Act 1975.