Land Conversion Approvals in Telangana Facing Massive Corruption Charges!
Is corruption in Telangana's Municipal Administration Department, which is directly overseen by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, reaching new heights? According to several sources within the department and the real estate sector, the answer appears to be yes. Officials and industry insiders claim that corruption in the Municipal Administration Department has now surpassed even the levels witnessed during the previous BRS government. In particular, allegations related to land-use conversion files have reportedly reached alarming proportions. Real estate developers say the situation has become unbearable. While some might understand large demands being made for files involving vast tracts of land, they allege that even relatively small land-use conversion applications are now being subjected to demands running into crores of rupees. According to some affected individuals, the situation has become so intimidating that many people are afraid even to discuss their pending files openly.
One person who claimed to be affected by the system stated that money was collected for such approvals even during the BRS regime, but the scale of the alleged corruption has now increased significantly. According to discussions within the department, a particular individual is allegedly managing much of the dealings related to these files. It is further being claimed that a major portion of the money collected is passed on to higher authorities. However, there is no clarity on whether these activities are taking place with the knowledge of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, who is in charge of the Municipal Administration Department. At the same time, one senior official expressed the view that it would be difficult for such a large-scale operation to continue without coming to the notice of the Chief Minister.
A committee is responsible for approving land-use conversion files, and permissions from the Municipal Administration Department are particularly crucial for lands falling under the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) jurisdiction. According to sources, those seeking approval must first ensure their files are cleared through various channels before they can reach the committee for consideration. The allegations come at a time when the real estate sector has already been facing significant challenges due to sluggish market conditions over the past few years. Developers say they are struggling with multiple issues, and the latest allegations of rampant corruption in a department directly supervised by the Chief Minister have added to their concerns. Department insiders further claim that the alleged irregularities are not limited to land-use conversion approvals alone. Similar practices are said to be prevalent in obtaining various other permissions and clearances as well. As a result, critics argue that corruption in the Municipal Administration Department has become a persistent issue, regardless of which political party is in power.
