Land sharks flourish on prime Wakf lands

Locals allege that 11 acres of land belonging to the Wakf Board near Attapur are being sold by land grabbers

Hyderabad: Land sharks seem to be making some fast bucks by selling away 11 acres of prime land worth at least Rs 110 crore belonging to the Wakf Board in the heart of the city. About 11 acres of Wakf land in Survey No 335/1, 2, 3 has been plotted for a gated community venture whose plots are being sold for a minimum Rs 20,000 per square yard.

The land is situated near Attapur under Rajendranagar mandal. Popularly known as Mir Mahmood Sahab ki Pahadi or M M Pahadi, this land parcel strangely had not caught the attention of the officials of the Revenue department.

According to a gazette notification issued on July 1 in 2004, Survey Nos 335/1,2,3 are Wakf lands. Strangely, the land parcel is now being developed in the name of M M Q Prime Hills Colony and has been made into plots of 20,484 sq yards.

Plots are being sold in parcels of 100 to 900 sq yards. The site which is close to Pillar Number 203 of PVNR Expressway is well connected by a CC road, has electricity connection and even drinking water supply lines. Most of these have come up in the past couple of weeks.

Enquiries revealed that these plots were being sold away by the developer after claiming them to be patta land. A close acquaintance and partner in the venture, Asif, claimed that the land was bought from a Reddy landlord, which was registered during 1967. “This is patta land registered several years ago and we have reached an agreement with other claimants.

We have a Pahani record for the survey number in question,” claimed Asif. Locals are alleging that MIM was either backing the developer or has a direct role in the episode. Rumours are rife that one of the developers, claiming to be a cousin of Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, is working behind the scene in a swift manner to sell away this prime land parcel.

However, MIM leaders denied having any involvement in the land parcel in question at M M Pahadi. “This is a misinformation campaign being spread by our detractors. Some elements wish to pull us into controversies, despite losing the elections. Mudslinging has become their business even though they have failed to prove their mettle in the recent elections,” said a senior MIM leader.

“While the Chief Minister continues to assure protection of Wakf properties, encroachments continue unabated in the city. This land parcel has been registered recently in violation of all norms,” said Syed Iftequar Hussaini, general secretary, Save Wakf Properties Association. When the issue was brought to the notice of Rajendranagar MRO V Chandrashekar, he said there was no information on encroachment of Wakf lands in his jurisdiction.

Responding to queries, Telangana State Wakf Board CEO, Md Asadullah informed that he referred the land encroachment issue at M M Pahadi to the collector recently through a letter. “I had earlier asked the Ranga Reddy district collector to carry out a joint survey of the encroached Wakf lands.

We have yet again asked the collector to verify the facts,” he said. Rajendranagar RDO P Suresh said there was no complaint regarding these survey numbers. “The Wakf Board has complete authority over the matter. The revenue department does not have any record. If we come across any such thing that you have brought to our notice, we directly refer the matter to the Wakf Board as they have an entire machinery to deal with the issue,” said the RDO.