₹7k Crore Nadergul Land Dispute Sparks Political Storm in Telangana
HYDERABAD: A political dispute has erupted over a 373-acre land parcel in Nadergul. Senior BRS leader T Harish Rao accused AQ Square Realtors Pvt Ltd of attempting a large-scale land grab. Meanwhile, the company rejected the charges, calling them baseless and politically motivated.
Harish Rao’s Allegations
Speaking at Telangana Bhavan, Harish Rao said the land, valued at nearly ₹7,000 crore, belongs to the government. He alleged that leaders of the ruling Congress and politically linked firms are trying to gain illegal control. According to him, the land has long been recognised as government property, dating back to the undivided Andhra Pradesh era, and later transferred to the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC).
Legal Status and Court Findings
Harish Rao pointed out that the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) had declared the land government-owned in 2005. Moreover, he highlighted that subsequent court rulings, including a 2022 High Court order, invalidated related sale transactions. The matter now awaits a decision from the Supreme Court of India. He stressed, “The High Court judgment remains in force.”
Impact on Farmers
He claimed that around 600 poor farmers, including women cultivators, cannot access the land. He accused authorities of intimidating them, destroying borewells, erecting fences, and using police pressure to force them out. Additionally, he said officials offered token compensation to push them to vacate.
Environmental Concerns
Harish Rao raised environmental issues, noting that parts of the land fall within the Full Tank Level (FTL) and buffer zone of Lachamma Kunta. He alleged that feeder channels to nearby water bodies are being damaged. Consequently, he demanded that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy intervene, remove illegal structures, restore farmers’ access, and hold the responsible parties accountable.
Developer Firm’s Response
AQ Square Realtors Pvt Ltd rejected the allegations and denied any connection with Ponguleti Harsha Reddy regarding the land. The company clarified that Harsha Reddy served as an additional director between December 2021 and January 2023 and has since resigned. They added that attempts to link him to the issue are misleading.
The Kohinoor Group stated that AQ Square Realtors holds the development agreement for land in Survey No. 613 of Nadergul. They executed agreements with Karim Alladin, acting as GPA holder of the legal heirs of late Raja Shiv Raj Bahadur, along with Omega Development Ventures, Alpha Estate Holdings, and United Landmarks Pvt Ltd.
The company also said it erected blue-sheet fencing around the property in 2021 and completed the work by May 2022. Google Earth imagery can verify this. They further noted that a 2005 lawsuit seeking ownership and possession rights was dismissed by the trial court in 2007. Subsequent appeals, including those involving the state and APIIC, were also dismissed by the Supreme Court.
Ongoing Dispute
Both sides continue to present conflicting claims backed by legal and political arguments, leaving the Nadergul land dispute unresolved
