HILTP raises alarms: Experts warn of livelihood, environmental risks
HYDERABAD: After a storm of political controversy, public policy experts are now raising red flags over the newly unveiled Hyderabad Industrial Lands Transformation Policy (HILTP), which aims to repurpose underused industrial lands. Critics argue the policy falls short of an integrated vision and overlooks crucial issues of livelihoods and environmental protection, as an urban affairs expert highlights.
Following BRS working president K T Ramarao’s explosive claim that the policy is a “5 lakh crore scam” and the party’s fierce opposition, public policy experts have joined the chorus of concern. They warn that, without careful planning and execution, the policy risks becoming a mere land monetisation scheme instead of a blueprint for balanced, sustainable development.
In a letter to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, Public Policy Specialist, Donthi Narasimha Reddy argued that the policy under Government Order No. 27 (November 22, 2025) is more of an “administrative directive” than a holistic, inclusive instrument.
The HILTP promises to breathe new life into dormant industrial lands in and around the Outer Ring Road (ORR), envisioning bustling multi-use zones. Yet, the letter points to three glaring gaps: no safety net for workers’ livelihoods, missing environmental protections, and no clear roadmap for relocating current industries.
Key concerns
A major concern is the policy’s “blind spot” towards thousands of workers in existing industrial units. The letter states that these workers face displacement without any livelihood protection, compensation framework, or reskilling pathway. It warns that residential colonies with poorer families near these estates could also face eviction or steep rent increases due to land-use changes.
On the environmental front, the policy is criticised for ignoring the historical pollution legacy of these industrial areas. “No scientific baseline evaluation has been undertaken to determine the extent and nature of contamination,” the letter notes. It raises an alarm that converting such lands without remediation could expose future residents to health hazards from polluted groundwater, soil, and water bodies.
The absence of a transparent relocation strategy for existing industries is another major flaw. The policy provides no clarity on where these units will be moved or on which pollution prevention plans will guide the new zones. It is also accused of treating large land parcels in isolation rather than integrating them into broader area-level plans for civic infrastructure and transport.
To make the HILTP a “sustainable, equitable, and people-centred” initiative, the letter offers eight recommendations. One key suggestion is to conduct a thorough environmental assessment of soil, water, and air. This will help create specific remediation plans for different zones. Conduct a socio-economic survey of residents and workers. This will help find vulnerabilities and create protective measures. Develop integrated local-area plans linking transformed lands to surrounding mobility networks and public utilities. Implement a Green Development Mandate. Set aside at least 40% of land in each zone for parks, urban forests, and restored water bodies.
Some other key suggestions include allocating 20% of the land for shared infrastructure. This includes mobility corridors, sewage treatment, and stormwater drains. Create a clear relocation plan for industries. Include straightforward pollution control rules and protections for livelihoods. Set up a worker benefit-sharing system. This will ensure that workers get a fair share of the incentives and profits from the land transformation. Create guidelines for industrial site selection in new zones. These should specifically avoid fertile agricultural land. This protects food security and maintains ecological balance.
The letter ends with a caution that HILTP has the power to dramatically reshape Hyderabad’s industrial and urban future. But without these crucial safeguards, it could devolve into just another land monetisation scheme. Only by weaving environmental cleanup, social protections, and inclusive planning into the HILTP can the government ensure it truly serves the people of Telangana.
