Hyderabad: Former minister and BRS Deputy Floor Leader T. Harish Rao demanded a sitting judge inquiry into the 22A prohibited lands issue and sought immediate relief for affected property owners.
He also demanded a government white paper explaining the inclusion of properties in the prohibited list. Moreover, he sought the dismissal of Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy over the controversy.
Harish Rao addressed affected families at a meeting organised at MJ Gardens in Shapur Nagar, Quthbullapur constituency. MLA K.P. Vivekanand led the meeting. During the interaction, Harish Rao heard grievances from affected families and assured them of support from the BRS.
He disputed Srinivas Reddy’s claim that 98% of affected lands had been removed from the 22A list. Harish Rao questioned why hundreds of affected people continued to seek relief if the minister’s claim was accurate.
22A prohibited lands inclusion was government’s mistake: Harish Rao
Harish Rao alleged that the government itself had wrongly included properties in the prohibited list. Therefore, he questioned why ordinary citizens should visit multiple government offices and submit applications to correct the alleged mistake.
He accused the government of placing properties belonging to lakhs of people on the prohibited list overnight. The BRS leader cited several old residential areas while questioning the classification of properties.
He referred to Padmarao Nagar Phase-I, which he said was established 58 years ago. He also mentioned Springfield, dating to the 1950s, and Nizampet. According to Harish Rao, even patta lands dating back several decades in these localities had been included under 22A.
He described the inclusion of such properties as an arbitrary decision. Harish Rao also alleged that middlemen and people linked to the government were collecting money to resolve property-related issues.
He claimed that a Congress MLA from Mahabubnagar was collecting Rs 30,000 each for villas and flats in Springfield Colony. According to Harish Rao, affected residents had complained that their work progressed only after payments were made.
He also cited the case of a person from Ameenpur. Harish Rao alleged that the individual had been sent between the MRO, RDO and Collector’s offices. Eventually, the person was indirectly pressured to approach outside brokers to get the issue resolved, he alleged.
Harish Rao alleges commissions behind 22A prohibited lands row
Harish Rao alleged that a large commission racket operated behind the 22A controversy. He named Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy while making the allegations. He further alleged that the entire exercise involved “50-50 commissions.”
These allegations were made by Harish Rao at the meeting, and no government response was provided in the source material. The BRS leader also criticised Revanth Reddy over his statements about understanding the real estate business.
Harish Rao said such knowledge should have been used to resolve people’s property problems rather than create further difficulties. He further accused the state government of putting public lands up for sale.
Harish Rao referred to lands belonging to HMDA, TGIIC and the Housing Board. He also alleged that even a 1,000-square-yard playground had been put up for sale. He warned that continued disposal of public land could eventually leave insufficient space for temples, schools and graveyards.
Harish Rao also accused the Congress government of failing to protect people’s properties. He further alleged deterioration in law and order and claimed that women lacked adequate protection for their lives and property.
BRS says issue extends across Telangana
Harish Rao said the 22A prohibited lands issue was not confined to Hyderabad. He claimed that around one crore acres of agricultural land across Telangana had also been included under 22A.
The BRS leader referred to his earlier intervention over affected lands in Malkajgiri. According to him, authorities collected the names of people who attended that meeting and later removed their lands from the list.
He made a similar claim about people who approached the BRS at Telangana Bhavan. Harish Rao said details of those affected residents were collected before their properties were removed from the prohibited list.
He claimed these developments showed that pressure from the BRS had forced the government to act. Harish Rao said his party would continue supporting people affected by the land issue across Telangana.
Harish Rao said the BRS would raise the issue when the Assembly session began on September 7. He said the party would intensify its protest inside the House to secure solutions for affected property owners.
The former minister demanded an investigation into who ordered the inclusion of the lands in the prohibited list. He specifically sought an immediate inquiry by a sitting judge. Harish Rao also questioned why the prohibited properties list had allegedly been kept secret.
He asked why access to the list had been blocked on the website and demanded greater transparency. The BRS leader called on the government to immediately release a white paper covering the 22A prohibited lands controversy.
Finally, he demanded that Revanth Reddy remove Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy from the Cabinet. Harish Rao accused the Revenue Department of creating uncertainty for property owners by placing their lands on the prohibited list.