KTR's Janwada farmhouse encroached nala, reveals Telangana govt departments' survey

HYDERABAD: A survey of the land surrounding the farmhouse in Janwada village which had been leased by BRS working president K T Rama Rao has revealed that the property had encroached about 14 guntas of the Balkapur nala. A joint inspection by the irrigation and revenue departments in Aug confirmed that the farmhouse in Shankarpally mandal in Rangareddy district had a compound wall and a gate on the nala.
Sources told TOI that the state govt is now planning to conduct a survey inside the farmhouse after taking permission from the Telangana high court.
While the Congress has alleged that the farmhouse belongs to KTR, the BRS leader has said he leased it from his friend, B Pradeep Reddy. Sources in the govt say the latest findings are the same as those reported by the revenue and irrigation departments to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in 2020.
Sources added that the survey was conducted around the farmhouse without entering it. "Officers want to enter the farmhouse and see other violations like the total extent of the land on paper (documents) and actual size (built-up area), which the farmhouse owner claimed was about 3,800 sq feet for paying property tax and other issues. The inspection inside the farmhouse can be done, either if the high court appoints an advocate commissioner or if it permits us to enter," a top official in the govt told TOI.
Rangareddy district authorities reportedly informed the govt that 2.24 guntas of the farmhouse is on the nala bed and another 11 guntas are in the buffer zone of survey no. 313 where a compound wall was raised. A road has also been laid on the nala portion.
'Farmhouse illegal, has no permission'
The nala size has shrunk. It was supposed to be roughly 25 metres wide, but is just six to eight metres in area," an official said.
The govt had ordered the survey in Aug following a direction by the Telangana high court to follow due process before taking any action, after the owner was served a notice for demolition who approached the court. Officials also said that though the farmhouse is far from the full tank level (FTL) of Osmansagar, it is illegal and does not have any permission.
"It falls under GO 111 area and no permission will be given for such buildings. The owner of the farmhouse has been paying Rs 1,627 property tax annually since 2015. But this does not give it protection from demolition," a senior official said.
The official added, "This is not an isolated illegal building. There are hundreds of buildings and farmhouses constructed without permission. The gram panchayat has been collecting property tax from all the owners as it does not want to lose the tax revenue. The govt must take a decision on whether or not to raze such buildings."