Congress MPs inspect Siddipet lands, flag assigned-land transfers
Congress MPs and MLCs inspected Siddipet lands, alleging assigned-land transfers and irregular acquisition linked to BRS leaders.
A delegation of Congress Lok Sabha MPs and MLCs carried out a field inspection in Siddipet on Friday, examining transactions involving assigned and government land that they allege were carried out irregularly during the previous BRS government.
The visit was led by Bhongir MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy, who said large tracts of assigned land had changed hands in violation of the restrictions that govern such holdings.
Citing Survey No. 271 in the Siddipet Assembly constituency, he said the survey number spans roughly 300 acres of Lavani-patta land. Within it, he alleged, parcels of 4 acres and 8 guntas allotted to an ex-serviceman and 2 acres and 8 guntas allotted under the freedom-fighter category were purchased by Madhavaram Hanumantha Rao, described by the MP as a relative of former Minister T. Harish Rao.
According to the MP, the transactions took place around 2009–10, despite the bar on transferring assigned land. He alleged that while a No Objection Certificate from the District Collector was required, permission was instead obtained from the RDO, and that the NOCs are now untraceable.
The delegation also raised questions about land acquired for the Ranganayakasagar project. Mr Reddy said about 2,212 acres were initially acquired in 2016–17, of which around 2,183 acres were ultimately utilised, leaving a balance of about 30 acres.
Of that remaining land, he alleged, Mr Harish Rao acquired 13 acres and 20 guntas in 2018 at roughly ₹2 lakh an acre. He questioned the subsequent development of a SUDA park around the parcel and alleged that the Irrigation Department laid a blacktop road to the property at a cost of about ₹5.30 crore without following the tender process.