Hyderabad: Former minister T. Harish Rao alleged that the government created the Section 22-A dispute in Boduppal to extract 30% commissions from property owners.
He accused the Congress government of adding legally registered properties to the prohibited list. Moreover, he alleged that the move put pressure on residents. Harish Rao demanded an explanation from Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy. He questioned why the government had targeted properties occupied by families for decades.
Hundreds of affected residents met Harish Rao and explained their grievances. They came from Tirumala Meadows, Lakshmi Ganapathi Colony and Hemanagar Colony in Boduppal. Meanwhile, Harish Rao assured the residents of BRS support. He said the party would fight to protect their properties.
Section 22-A dispute affects about 1,500 families
Harish Rao said about 1,500 families lived in houses under Survey No. 215 and its parts. He said many families had lived there for nearly 30 years. According to him, the properties had faced no disputes during that period.
However, he alleged that the Congress government suddenly added the houses to the Section 22-A prohibited list. He said officials invoked Urban Land Ceiling provisions for the move. Harish Rao questioned the government’s authority to place people’s properties on the prohibited list.
He also described the action as unjust to families who had lived there for decades. According to Harish Rao, some residents approached registration offices when they needed to sell their homes. However, they then learnt that authorities had placed their properties on the prohibited list.
As a result, the residents could not proceed with property registrations. Harish Rao said the situation caused severe mental distress among the families. He alleged that the government used legally registered houses to pressure property owners. Furthermore, he claimed that people faced demands for 30% commissions to clear their properties.
Harish Rao accused those involved of deliberately creating land disputes for financial gain. The BRS leader also alleged that benamis and intermediaries handled settlements with affected property owners.
He accused the government of creating fear among families who had lived peacefully in the colonies. Moreover, Harish Rao claimed that similar allegations over 30% commissions had emerged across Telangana.
He asked affected residents in Boduppal and elsewhere not to lose confidence. Instead, he assured them that the BRS would stand with them. Harish Rao said his party would take responsibility for protecting the properties of affected families.
He demanded immediate removal of the colonies from the Section 22-A prohibited list. In addition, he asked the government to provide relief to the affected property owners. The former minister urged the government to act instead of merely offering assurances.
Otherwise, he warned, the BRS would launch a large-scale agitation in support of the affected families. Harish Rao maintained that families with legally registered properties deserved protection. He said residents should not face restrictions after occupying their homes without disputes for decades.