3,140 slum-dwellers asked to pay up for land regularisation

​Hyderabad: Of the 60,000 applications which the government has received seeking regularisation of lands in the slums of the city, 3,140 were found to be ineligible to fall under below poverty line (BPL) category. This means they all have to pay up the specified sum towards regularisation.

Government lands are provided free of cost to the slum dwellers who come under the BPL category, with annual income below Rs 2 lakh. According to the notices received by the others, they must pay 10 per cent of the market price of the land.

The respective tahsildars have been instructed to survey and take note of above poverty line (APL) people residing in slums so that they could be required to pay the amount within 45 days.

Ramaiah, a worker at a firm in Jeedimetla and living in Laksmi Nagar, a slum in Khairatabad, said that he was unaware of the GOs, but had applied for regularisation of the land where he had constructed a house measuring 100 sq yards. He got a notice asking him to pay Rs 90,000 as his income is Rs 2.2 lakh per year.

However, the government has launched a drive to enlighten people about the GOs pertaining to the land regularisation and at the same time survey the residents of the slums about their economic status.

Joint Collector M Prashanti told The Hans India that tahsildars took up a campaign to instruct the homeless about the concept of regularising government lands under various GOs. At the same time, they were instructed to survey the economic status to know the residents’ eligibility and provide the lands accordingly.

“Tahsildars of respective mandals surveyed the families residing in the slums to know their eligibility in getting the lands for free. They are also spreading awareness about the various GOs. Nearly 40 slums were covered in 30 days. They have done survey in the slums, including Indira Nagar Weaker Sections Society, slums in Khairatabad and Ganga Bai Basti at Ameerpet,” she added.

The authorities surveyed 25 slums in Khairtabad and 15 in Shaikpet, where they found nearly 250 residents to be not eligible to get government land for free. So, they were asked to pay the prescribed amount to secure a shelter for themselves, said deputy tahsildar Vijayalakshmi.

People earning more than Rs 2 lakh per year are considered to be above poverty line; and, hence, they must pay 10 per cent of the market price to regularise the lands.