Telangana govt to slow down land auction due to legal issues

Since legal issues arose over the Kokapet land auction, the state government has decided to slow down land auctions. It is reliably learnt that the government may defer the second phase of land sales to the year-end. The sale of 49 acres of land in Kokapet and Khanamet had brought a record Rs 2,000 crore for the government. Overwhelmed by the response, the government proposed the second phase of auctions in August-end or September in HMDA jurisdiction and even told senior authorities to get ready to carry them out. However, several legal issues on the Kokapet land auction urged the government to go slow. According to the media, the high court’s warning of opening an escrow account to hold the Kokapet auction money has also made it difficult for the government to move forward with auctions. A senior official told the media that the government aims to mobilise around Rs 20,000 crore by selling unused government land in the current fiscal year. This money is required to execute several welfare schemes like loan waivers and Dalit Bandhu. He further said that moving by the current situation, the government may not even touch half of its aim. Some officials also cast doubts on the reply from bidders to the auctions, notably in HMDA limits, because of frequent legal problems. Some officials told the media that they were motivated and meant to produce barriers to the government. A senior HMDA official told the media that the government would continue to develop the ground for auctions in the identified land parcels. The auctions will be held at an appropriate time. Officials told the media that the HMDA aimed to complete the selling of leftover plots in the Uppal Bhagat layout near Nagole metro station and a stretch of land near Miyapur. The HMDA holds 105 acres of land in Miyapur. Of this, 55 acres was earlier allotted for the construction of an integrated bus terminal, the purpose of which, however, did not materialise. In another survey number, the HMDA has 270 acres, a part of which is caught in legal problems. The government was also intending to auction land in survey numbers 20 and 28 in Miyapur. Around 1,500 acres of land was identified in the erstwhile Rangareddy district for auctioning. These land parcels are located at Kongara Khurd, Budwel, Jawaharnagar, Thummaloor, Raviryal and Maheshwaram. Amidst confusion over the auctions, the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TSIIC) has been given the task to recognise big land parcels suitable for megaprojects and Special Economic Zones. Image Source Also read: Telangana sets Rs 25 cr as upset price for land auction in Greater Hyd Also read: EOW issues notice to Bhopal smart city corp over land auction