Harish Rao opposes ₹87-crore Azamabad land transfer, questions ₹500-crore valuation
HYDERABAD: BRS deputy floor leader and former minister T Harish Rao has opposed the proposed transfer of 15,984 square yards of Telangana Oilfed land in Azamabad Industrial Area to a private individual.
Rao alleged that the land is worth around ₹500 crore, but the government is offering it for ₹87 crore. In an open letter to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, he urged the government to withdraw the proposal and grant pre-hold rights over the entire 15,984 square yards to Telangana Oilfed.
The BRS alleged that the government is offering valuable public land below its market value while weakening a state-run organisation. The party said Oilfed has agreed to pay ₹87 crore for the pre-hold rights and has arranged funds for the payment.
BRS raises seven-decade-old Azamabad land dispute
The BRS said the dispute involves 17,261 square yards of land, measuring 3 acres and 23 guntas.
According to the party, the government leased the property to a private organisation in 1954 to run an oil mill. The organisation allegedly violated the lease terms by sub-leasing the land at higher rents.
The mill shut down within a year. The government cancelled the lease in 1974. The private organisation challenged the decision in court and later approached the Supreme Court, the BRS said.
The party said a 1987 Supreme Court judgment left the organisation with only 1,277 square yards. The government reclaimed the remaining 15,984 square yards and handed them over to Oilfed through GO No. 93 in 1991.
Oilfed has operated from the property since then, according to the BRS.
BRS questions proposed ₹87-crore land transfer
The BRS alleged that the government later tried to revive the cancelled lease through GO No. 366 in 2003. In 2015, the government issued a show-cause notice asking why the order should not be withdrawn.
The party said the Telangana High Court directed the government in 2022 to take a final decision on the notice.
“Law, court orders and records are all clearly on the side of the government organisation,” the BRS said.
The party alleged that the current proposal would leave Oilfed with only 1,800 square yards while transferring the remaining land to the same private individual.
“Even though its own government organisation is ready to pay the money, what is the reason behind the government ignoring it and handing over the property to a private individual?” the BRS asked.
Rao demanded that the government withdraw the proposal and grant pre-hold rights over the entire 15,984 square yards to Oilfed.
The BRS also linked the issue to what it described as a wider pattern involving government land in Kokapet, Raidurg and Kancha Gachibowli. The party accused the Congress government of allotting public land at low prices while bringing private properties under Section 22A.
The BRS warned that indiscriminate disposal of government land could reduce the land available for future public needs, including schools, temples and cremation grounds.
Rao sought a clear statement from the government on the proposed Azamabad transfer. He said the BRS would continue its campaign until the decision was withdrawn.
