4,000 acre govt land encroached around Hyd: Minister

Hyderabad, Feb 22 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Revenue Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao today told the Assembly that 4,357.30 acre of government land had been encroached by land grabbers in and around the capital.

Answering a question by Akbaruddin Owaisi of AIMIM during question hour, he said 1266.20 acre was under illegal occupation in Hyderabad District and 3091.10 acre in neighbouring Ranga Reddy district.

The Minister said 2797 cases had been filed for regularisation of 210.10 acre. Through a GO in 2003, the government had resolved 1357 cases by regularising illegal occupations in 101.09 acre. Through an amended GO in 2005, regularisation of other cases was under process.

Mr Rao said the government was demolishing illegal construction on its land. In 16 mandals around the city, unauthorised constructions were demolished in 162.28 acre. Valuable lands were being fenced and they were being protected by self-help groups.

Where the government was unable to safeguard its land, it was selling them and using the money for developmental activities.

The AIMIM member disputed the figures given by the Minister and claimed that 7,125 acre of land valued at Rs 25,000 crore was under encroachment. He said even nallas and tanks were being occupied, resulting in inundation of colonies of the poor during rains. Even playgrounds were illegally occupied by unscrupulous land grabbers.

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