Hyderabad: Former minister and BRS deputy floor leader T. Harish Rao on Wednesday urged Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy to protect government land in Nadargul from alleged encroachment by real estate groups.
Harish Rao raised the issue after farmers from Nadargul met him and alleged attempts to occupy 373 acres of government land in Survey No. 613 (119) at Kasubagh in Balapur mandal of Ranga Reddy district.
According to the farmers, real estate groups allegedly attempted encroachment with police support. They claimed encroachers erected fencing on the land and damaged borewells and feeder channels.
Farmers also submitted photographs and videos alleging attacks and destruction at the site. The land is reportedly worth thousands of crores.
Land mafia allegations linked to government land
Harish Rao said the previous BRS government led by K. Chandrashekar Rao fought a legal battle in the Telangana High Court under the Land Ceiling Act to protect the land.
He also stated that the present government had filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court confirming that the land belonged to the state government.
Alleging a conspiracy to transfer the land to private players, Harish Rao questioned the government’s “Hydraa” initiative.
He asked whether the programme targeted only poor people while ignoring large-scale encroachments involving influential groups.
Land mafia issue prompts calls for official action
After meeting the farmers, Harish Rao spoke with Ranga Reddy District Collector Narayana Reddy, Commissioner of Police V. C. Sajjanar, and local revenue officials.
He demanded immediate removal of illegal fencing and restoration of farming rights for local farmers.
The BRS leader also sought protection for water bodies and action against those damaging feeder channels in the area.
Harish Rao warned that he would visit the site with a BRS delegation if authorities failed to deliver justice to the farmers.