Hyderabad: Former minister Harish Rao demanded immediate withdrawal of the Madhu Park Ridge notices issued to residents for the proposed Gandhi Sarovar project in Bandlaguda.
He said the government should avoid rigidity and revoke the notices without delay. The notices were recently served to residents of the Madhu Park Ridge gated community in Gandipet mandal of Rangareddy district.
Harish Rao visited the apartment complex on Sunday to assure residents of support. He was accompanied by former minister Sabitha Indra Reddy and MLAs Madhavaram Krishna Rao, Devi Reddy Sudhir Reddy and Karthik Reddy. They interacted with residents and expressed solidarity.
Madhu Park Ridge notices trigger protest over Gandhi Sarovar project
Speaking on the occasion, Harish Rao alleged that the real estate sector had collapsed after the Congress came to power. He said acquiring houses in the name of the Gandhi Sarovar project was unjust. Therefore, he reiterated that the Madhu Park Ridge notices must be withdrawn immediately.
He stated that residents did not want TDR benefits or monetary compensation. He clarified that they were not opposed to installing a Gandhi statue. However, he said demolishing houses of poor and middle-class families to erect a statue at huge cost was unacceptable.
He added that several vacant lands were available in Hyderabad. The statue could be installed there instead of demolishing apartments, he said.
Madhu Park Ridge notices row widens with legal warning
Harish Rao accused the Revanth Reddy government of conspiring to hand over lands to large corporate groups such as Ambani and Adani. Rao said the party was ready to approach the High Court and the Green Tribunal if required. He assured residents of full support.
He said former chief minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao shared a strong bond with the area and had visited thrice. He urged people to unite and fight if the government failed to respond.
Expressing concern, he said residents were in deep distress over the Madhu Park Ridge notices. He cited an older woman who broke down, saying they would rather die than lose their homes.
Harish Rao suggested that five or six representatives from the apartment meet him to plan further action. Earlier, Sabitha Indra Reddy and others criticised the government’s stand. Former Bandlaguda Jagir municipal mayor Latha Prema Goud and BRS leader Rao Kondal Nagaraju were present.