BJP Leader Challenges State Government Over Land Policy
In a significant political development, BJP floor leader Alleti Maheshwar Reddy has demanded that the Telangana government present the Hyderabad Industrial Land Transformation Policy (HILTP) before the legislative assembly for comprehensive discussion before proceeding with implementation. The BJP leader made this demand during a media interaction at the assembly premises on Saturday, raising serious concerns about the policy's financial implications.
Allegations of Massive Land Value Discrepancy
Maheshwar Reddy leveled serious allegations against the state government, claiming they are "conspiring to give away" land worth ₹6.29 lakh crore for a mere ₹5,000 crore under the land conversion Government Order. The BJP leader highlighted what he called an enormous gap in land valuation, pointing to specific examples that have raised eyebrows among opposition parties and industry observers alike.
Questioning the substantial differences in land pricing, Reddy asked why an acre in Kokapet commands a price of ₹151 crore while industrial areas are being valued at just ₹54 lakh per acre. Citing Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) auction data, he stated that the average price across 22 industrial areas should realistically be around ₹68 crore per acre, indicating a massive undervaluation in the current policy framework.
Unanswered Questions and Debate Challenge
The BJP leader revealed that he had personally challenged Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy to a public debate on the matter, but the minister "did not come" according to Maheshwar Reddy. Despite the minister's claims that there is no scope for corruption in the HILTP, Reddy asserted that the government has failed to answer the opposition's questions for six consecutive days, creating an information vacuum around the controversial policy.
Reddy also questioned why ministers Bhatti Vikramarka and D Sridhar Babu, who had previously promised to expose irregularities in land transfers during the BRS era, have not yet done so. Adding to the controversy, the BJP leader claimed that the HILTP did not feature in the November 17 cabinet meeting discussions nor was it mentioned in GO 27, raising further questions about the policy's approval process and transparency.
The escalating confrontation over the Hyderabad Industrial Land Transformation Policy signals growing political tensions in Telangana, with the BJP positioning itself as a watchdog against potential land allocation irregularities. The demand for full assembly discussion reflects opposition concerns about the scale and financial impact of the industrial land transformation initiative.
