Hyderabad: In a move aimed at clearing long-pending land and revenue issues, the Telangana govt has decided to sell small housing board plots and regularise additional land held by homeowners, while tightening control over leases and rentals to protect public assets.Housing minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, who reviewed housing department matters on Monday, directed officials to prepare a detailed report on the proposed sale of housing board land measuring up to 100 square yards adjacent to existing housing board houses. The proposal also includes regularising earlier additional allotments of such land. Officials were asked to compile data on prevailing market prices, sub-registrar market values, details of plots below 100 square yards, unregistered plots and cases where owners are seeking registration of adjoining land. These issues will be placed before the cabinet for a final decision. Plan on lease renewalsThe minister also reviewed disputes relating to leases, agreements, rents and court cases involving housing board properties. He instructed officials to draw up a clear action plan covering lease renewals, commercial use, rent collection and regularisation, while ensuring that housing board land is protected from encroachment or misuse. Officials informed the minister that since the Nizam era, housing board land has been leased to 115 institutions, including educational establishments, residential and commercial units, schools and temples. They said court cases and rent arrears were pending in seven such sites. The minister directed that notices be issued to institutions that have failed to renew their lease agreements, giving them an opportunity to regularise their occupation. The review also flagged revenue losses from housing board shops. “Of the 301 commercial shops under the board across the state, 14 were sold to shop owners in 2007. Of the remaining 287 shops, 62 are currently vacant. Under housing board rules, shop owners must renew leases every year with a 10% increase in rent,” officials said. Unpaid duesDue to non-compliance, officials said the board is owed crores of rupees in unpaid dues. The minister suggested exploring the sale of shops at market rates to existing traders willing to buy them, and auctioning shops that are not viable for business. To strengthen the board’s legal position, the minister advised appointing a special advocate to effectively pursue court cases and secure housing board lands. He also reiterated that plots below 100 square yards adjoining housing board houses should be sold to interested homeowners. Those who have not registered their allotted plots should be given an opportunity to do so, and if they purchase the adjoining land, they should be allowed to register the entire plot in one go.
