Controversy Erupts Over Telangana Land Policy

The Telangana BJP has requested Governor Jishnu Dev Varma halt the Hyderabad Industrial Lands Transformation Policy (HILTP) introduced by the Congress government, alleging that it enables the transfer of valuable public land to private interests at low prices. They call for an investigation into land conversion practices.

Controversy has erupted in Telangana as the BJP has appealed to Governor Jishnu Dev Varma to stop the Hyderabad Industrial Lands Transformation Policy (HILTP), recently introduced by the Congress-led state government.

In their memorandum, the BJP accused the state of planning to transfer 9,292.53 acres of prime land to a politician-realtor nexus, disguised as policy reform. The BJP leaders argue that the policy allows the conversion of industrial land to multi-purpose use at only 30 to 50 percent of the Sub-Registrar (SR) value, despite soaring market rates.

As tensions mount, Telangana IT and Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu defended the policy, stating it applies conversion fees only to lands owned by industrialists and does not involve government land leaseholds. Babu claims that BJP's allegations are part of a broader campaign to malign the government.

(With inputs from agencies.)