1 mansions turn money-spinners

Old bungalows on lease for just one rupee in the Secunderabad Cantonment are converted into function halls, schools and commercial establishments. Many leasehold lands were converted into freehold lands.

• 40 bungalows are in the eye of the storm
• Previous attempts to resume lands failed
• Three months ago a board was constituted to look into the irregularities

Out of the 140-odd grand bungalows in Secunderabad Cantonment, close to 40 are on lease at one rupee per acre per annum. Located mostly in Balamrai, Bowenpally, Diamond Point and Bolarum, these bungalows in 1.5 acres to 15 acres were given by the British for an indefinite period. Occupants have converted them into swanky function halls, schools, garages and other commercial establishments.

Though the Union Government has the power to take over the bungalows in cases of violations and if the Defence Ministry feels the need, there has not been much headway.

Many bungalows are converted into function halls. The charges vary from Rs 30,000 to Rs 1-2 lakh per day. A member of Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB), spoke on condition of anonymity: “Loopholes in law, nexus between local leaders, real estate dealers and officials from departments are putting a spoke in investigations. Malla Reddy Gardens, Imperial Garden, Classic garden, Bungalows No 184,185 and 187 and the Safe Express showroom are a few.”

There were four attempts to resume lands from occupants of bungalows in 2007, 08, 09 and 10, but they proved futile. A V Dharma Reddy, Defence Estates Officer, Secunderabad, said, “A board was constituted three months ago and 38 bungalows have since been identified where there have been violations. Action will be taken soon. Till date five bungalows have been fully resumed (taken over by the Defence Ministry) and another five have been partly resumed for road widening purpose.”

Residents, however, are sceptical. Joseph, a businessman in Gunrock area, says, “Many records were burnt. Many converted the leased lands to freehold lands.”

Brig (Retd) G B Reddy has been raising his voice for several years now. He says, “I wrote several letters with evidence to the Defence Minister in 2010, but I did not even receive an acknowledgement.” In one of his letters to the Defence Ministry, he writes: ‘Out of 147 old Bungalows, over 40 are on lease @ Re One per acre per annum. The real value of land of the above bungalows is today Rs 30 crore per acre or more. For a 10 acre bungalow, it is over Rs 300 crore. If an earnest attempt is made to compile the data, the scale of loss to the state will be monumental.”

The Department of Defence Estates claims that it is making efforts to minimise fresh acquisition of land, but no action has been taken against many occupants of old bungalows. S Sainath, a resident of West Marredpally, says, “In 2008 notices were issued to Auto Chenoy, Malla Reddy bungalow, a school and others.”

K M Devraj, assistant executive engineer, SCB, said, “83 properties are on lease as per our records. We are a civic body. The lands are classified into A1, B2, B3 so on and so forth.” Bungalows come under the management of Defence Estates, whereas lands under A1 category purely are defence lands.

If violations are there to see, the proof and documents have been destroyed. Many leased lands have been converted into freehold. Brig Reddy opines, “It forms a miniscule of 49,000 old grant sites at all-India level.

If an earnest attempt is made to compile the data, the scale of loss to the State will be monumental. Land scam exposed in Sukhna or the Mumbai high rise pales into insignificance before the happenings in Secunderabad Cantonment.”