HYDERABAD: Former minister and Siddipet MLA T. Harish Rao has levelled serious allegations against the Revanth Reddy-led Congress government in Telangana, accusing it of paying ₹170 crore as commission to a broker for facilitating a ₹10,000 crore loan by mortgaging University of Hyderabad (HCU) lands. He made the claims while addressing the media at Telangana Bhavan after submitting a formal complaint to the Central Environment Advisory Committee concerning the Kanchanagachibowli land issue.
Harish Rao stated that the Congress government mortgaged HCU land on 22 November 2024 and paid ₹169.83 crore to a broker in connection with the loan. “This isn’t based on hearsay. The information comes directly from the government’s written response to a question I raised in the Assembly,” he asserted.
He further alleged that the state is now seeking to raise an additional ₹40,000 crore by further leveraging the same land, in clear defiance of legal procedures and Supreme Court directives. Despite court orders to halt all activity on the land, boards have been erected claiming it belongs to the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TSIIC), which he described as a blatant act of contempt. “Revanth Reddy seems to have no fear of the law,” Rao remarked.
The BRS leader criticised the Chief Minister’s stance on environmental issues, highlighting Revanth Reddy’s previous opposition to tree cutting during the BRS regime. “Now, lakhs of trees are being felled across hundreds of acres. Will any action be taken against the CM, Chief Secretary, and police officials?” he questioned.
Supreme Court Committee Inspects Controversial Gachibowli Land Near HCU
Harish Rao condemned the arrest of University of Hyderabad students who protested the large-scale deforestation, holding Revanth Reddy, who also oversees the Home department, directly responsible. “Students have been jailed for ten days simply for protesting the cutting of trees. Why is the Deputy CM appealing for their release when they did nothing wrong?” he asked.
He said the complaint to the committee outlines how the deforestation included not only subabul trees, as claimed by forest officials, but also valuable sandalwood and medicinal plants. “There is a lake on this land. Seven environmental laws have been violated in this destructive drive,” he claimed.
Harish Rao also questioned the silence of law enforcement authorities. “If someone is arrested for criticising the Chief Minister online, why is no action being taken against those responsible for ecological destruction?” he said, adding that silence in the face of such crimes amounts to complicity.
He reaffirmed that the land rightfully belongs to the University of Hyderabad and called upon the Central Environment Advisory Committee to take swift and appropriate action.
కంచ గచ్చిబౌలి భూముల్లో కాంగ్రెస్ ప్రభుత్వం అన్ని నియమ నిబంధనలు ఉల్లంఘించి.. పండుగ రోజులు, సెలవు దినాల్లో పర్యావరణ విధ్వంసం చేసింది.
పేద రైతు తన పొలంలో ఉన్న ఒక చెట్టు కొడితే పోలీసులు, ఎమ్మార్వో వెళ్లి లక్షల పెనాలిటి వేస్తారు..
రేవంత్ రెడ్డి వేల సంఖ్యలో చెట్లు నరుకుతుంటే… pic.twitter.com/BvIBvDlvnq
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