Govt focuses on revenue generation for schemes

Hyderabad: Is Telangana government exploring the option of selling unused government lands and buildings in the 10 districts to mobilise revenue for implementation of its populist schemes?

If the sudden focus on identifying government properties in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts, including those in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits, is anything to go by, it looks certain that the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) administration wishes to make use of the land bank to overcome revenue crisis plaguing the 29th State.

According to sources, the government is hoping to pool at least Rs 2,000 crore from each district through this initiative. Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma convened a meeting in this connection at the Secretariat on Monday. GHMC commissioner Somesh Kumar as well as Collectors of Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts besides senior officials attended the meeting. There are nearly 17O HOD offices mainly in Nampally, Khairatabad, Panjagutta, Himayatnagar, Barkatpura, Erramanzil, Masab Tank and Abids. Many of these offices will remain empty if the HODs are shifted to Erragadda, along with the Secretariat, in the next one year as desired by the Chief Minister. The government is understood to have also decided to dispose of sprawling guest houses located in the heart of the city and various towns in the 10 districts.

Prior to taking up this activity, the administration is said to be planning to build guest houses on the outskirts of cities and towns in the 10 districts. It is of the opinion that guest houses should have calm and serene surroundings and should be away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

The IAS officers were asked to collect complete details of government properties. Rajiv Sharma asked them to upload the details, along with pictures, on the Centre for Good Governance website within three days.