HMDA has 1.3 lakh LRS applications pending
HYDERABAD: Six years after the Telangana government introduced the Layout Regularisation Scheme (LRS) 2020, thousands of applicants are still waiting for their plots to be regularised, with 1.35 lakh applications pending for fee payment in the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) jurisdiction.
Of 2,69,354 applications at various stages in HMDA, proceedings have so far been issued or cleared for issuance in only 35,364 cases. The government has extended the deadline under the scheme until November.
Applicants wait six years for plot regularisation
Venkat of Boduppal bought a piece of land at Wadaigudem near Yadadri and applied for regularisation under LRS six years ago. However, he is yet to receive LRS proceedings.
Like him, several people from different parts of Hyderabad applied for regularisation of plots in the area and paid the prescribed fee. Six years later, their applications remain unresolved. Some online files have also disappeared.
Wadaigudem, which was earlier under HMDA jurisdiction, subsequently came under the Yadadri Temple Development Authority (YTDA). Similar problems have affected LRS applications in several other areas.
While some applicants paid fees running into lakhs of rupees but are yet to get their plots regularised, others have not paid the fee so far.
Thousands of applicants also remain uncertain about the status of their files because of technical and coordination issues involving the Centre for Good Governance (CGG), which manages the technical platform for the LRS scheme.
Fee collections continue as applications remain pending
The government introduced LRS 2020 six years ago and has repeatedly extended the scheme while offering a concession on fees. The concession has now been extended until November.
Fees are being collected from applicants, but many applications subsequently remain pending for various reasons.
Another problem is that ownership of several plots for which applications were originally submitted has since changed. As a result, many applicants have not paid the fee despite notices issued by HMDA and other government agencies.
Of about 2.69 lakh applications under HMDA, fee notices were issued in 1,82,738 cases. So far, only 85,655 applicants have paid the fee, while 1,35,365 are yet to make the payment.
Officials attribute the low response partly to changes in plot ownership. Applicants, however, say technical issues are being cited as reasons for delays and that they have to repeatedly approach officials to get their applications processed.
Only 35,364 applications are eligible for LRS proceedings, while 2,433 have been rejected as ineligible. Several other files are at different stages of processing.
LRS status in HMDA
Total applications: 2,69,354
Fee notices issued: 1,82,738
Applicants who paid fee: 85,655
Applicants yet to pay: 1,35,365
Eligible for proceedings: 35,364
Rejected as ineligible: 2,433
Several other files are at different stages.
Technical issues delay transfer and processing of files
When the government introduced LRS in 2020, HMDA functioned as the main nodal agency.
Following the expansion of municipalities, many LRS files were transferred to local bodies. The process, however, led to large-scale technical problems.
A lack of coordination between CGG, local bodies and officials has resulted in prolonged delays. In several areas, including Wadaigudem, applicants say files have gone missing during the process.
