HYDERABAD: The Telangana government is taking steps to resolve longstanding land and revenue issues by selling small plots of housing board land and regularizing additional land owned by homeowners, while also tightening regulations on leases and rentals to safeguard public assets.
During a review meeting on housing department matters, Housing Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy instructed officials to prepare a detailed report concerning the sale of housing board land measuring up to 100 square yards adjacent to existing housing board houses.
The proposal also aims to regularize previously allotted additional land. Officials are to gather data on current market prices, sub-registrar market valuations, details of plots under 100 square yards, unregistered plots, and cases where owners are seeking registration of nearby land. These findings will be presented to the cabinet for a final decision.
Plan for Lease Renewals
The minister also looked into disputes regarding leases, agreements, rents, and court cases related to housing board properties. He directed officials to formulate a comprehensive action plan addressing lease renewals, commercial use, rent collection, and regularization, while ensuring housing board land is protected from encroachment and misuse.
Officials reported that since the Nizam era, housing board land has been leased to 115 institutions, including educational institutions, residential and commercial units, schools, and temples. Court cases and rent arrears are pending in seven such locations. The minister ordered that notices be sent to institutions that have not renewed their lease agreements, providing them an opportunity to regularize their occupancy.
The review also highlighted revenue losses from housing board shops. “Out of the 301 commercial shops under the board across the state, 14 were sold to shop owners in 2007. Currently, 62 of the remaining 287 shops are vacant. According to housing board rules, shop owners must renew their leases annually with a 10% hike in rent,” officials stated.
Outstanding Dues
Officials noted that due to non-compliance, the board is owed significant unpaid dues. The minister proposed exploring the sale of shops at market rates to interested traders and auctioning off those deemed unviable for business.
To bolster the board’s legal position, the minister advised appointing a special advocate to effectively manage court cases and secure housing board lands. He also reiterated that plots under 100 square yards adjacent to housing board houses should be offered for sale to interested homeowners.
Individuals who have not registered their allotted plots should be granted an opportunity to do so, and upon purchasing adjacent land, they should be permitted to register the entire plot simultaneously.
