Hyderabad: Revenue officials demolished nearly 650 houses built on Bhoodan lands at Velugumatla on the outskirts of Khammam under heavy police security, drawing sharp criticism from former minister KTR over the Velugumatla house demolitions.
Residents said authorities carried out the Velugumatla house demolitions without serving prior notices. They alleged that officials did not allow them time to remove household belongings before flattening the houses with JCB machines. Consequently, several families said they were rendered homeless within hours.
According to the affected residents, officials ignored repeated requests to halt the drive. Moreover, they claimed that no alternative housing or rehabilitation was offered before the demolition began. Tension prevailed in the locality as police personnel were deployed in large numbers.
KTR attacks government over Velugumatla house demolitions
Amid the fallout from the Velugumatla house demolitions, K. T. Rama Rao visited the site and met displaced families. He assured them of support and expressed solidarity.
Later, he criticised the state government in a post on X. In the message, he alleged that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy had promised to send Rs.1,000 crore to the Gandhi family. He claimed the Velugumatla house demolitions were aimed at clearing poor families’ homes to sell the land and mobilise funds.
KTR further alleged that while poor families were losing houses, the Chief Minister was constructing a second palace in Hyderabad. He also claimed that Rs.9 crore was being spent on building a fort wall around the residence.
In addition, he alleged that Bhatti was constructing a third house and that Ponguleti had floated a tenth company to earn commissions. However, he said poor families were pushed onto the streets. Calling it a real estate company rather than a government, he remarked that they were not ministers but real estate brokers.
The Velugumatla house demolitions have since escalated the political confrontation in the state, with the opposition demanding accountability and relief for the affected residents.
వెయ్యి కోట్ల గాంధీ కుటుంబానికి పంపుతాను అని ప్రామిస్ చేశాడు.
అందుకే పేదల ఇళ్లు కూల్చి, భూములు అమ్మి డబ్బులు రెడీ చెయ్యాలని చూస్తున్నాడుపేదల ఇళ్లులు కూలగొడుతూ….అక్కడ హైదరాబాద్ లో తన రెండవ పాలస్ కట్టుకుంటున్నాడు CM!
పేదల ఇళ్ళు పెకిలించి వేస్తూ….మరో పక్క తన కోటకు తొమ్మిది… pic.twitter.com/nm0voocaBX
— KTR (@KTRBRS) February 27, 2026