Yadagirigutta expansion plan puts farmers in quandary

Yadagirigutta(Nalgonda): The Telangana State government’s decision to acquire 2,000 acres of land to develop Yadagirigutta Lakshminarasimha Swamy temple as pilgrimage centre has put the farmers and realtors in quandary. The Yadagirigutta Lakshinarasimha Swamy Temple is already famous as Second Tirupati.

• Both farmers, realtors in dilemma; no clarity on extent of required govt lands
• Govt/assigned lands grabbed by realtors, who floated ventures
• Construction stopped following Temple Devasthanam’s orders
• Clarity likely after Nalgonda district officials meet CM KCR shortly

While the farmers fear of losing their livelihood, a section of realtors, who grabbed government and assigned lands, are scared of being exposed.

The government may find it easy to acquire 900 acres of lands, which consists of farm and forest lands, but the real problem lies in securing 1,200 acres. These lands belong to the government and those assigned to the weaker sections. Most of these lands are under illegal occupation. During the last three years, when the separatist agitation was at its peak, land prices fell. Following Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s decision to develop the Temple City the prices are shooting up. They virtually doubled in the temple’s proximity.

Land-owning farmers are unable to decide whether to sell their holdings or not. If yes, at what rate. They may not opt to sell the lands to the government as it is not likely to get them good returns.

Realtors, who have invested crores, are facing a dicey situation, having already sold many plots in the occupied government/assigned lands. More so, their ventures are within two km range of the temple. Their problem has become complicated with the Temple Devasthanam issuing directions that eight acres in survey no 190, 191 and 160 should not be registered in favour of anyone.

Following the directive, construction of houses in plots which have been sold by realtors has been stopped. The dilemma of both farmers and realtors comes in the wake of the reported indecisiveness of the government—should it adopt the new GOI land acquisition policy, come up with an ordinance to take over its lands or adopt land-pooling. A clear picture is likely to emerge shortly when the district officials hold a meeting with KCR.