Hyderabad: In a move that could significantly reshape development on the fringes of Hyderabad, realtors and builders in Telangana have urged the state govt to permit farmhouse plotting under conservation land use, with clearly defined size and construction limits. The proposal, they said, would curb unregulated growth, bring order to existing grey zones, and generate steady revenue for the govt. During a meeting with officials of the municipal administration department a few days ago, representatives of builders’ associations such as NAREDCO, CREDAI and TDA suggested allowing farmhouse plots with a minimum size of 10 guntas (around 12,000 square yards). They proposed a maximum building coverage of 25%, a height limit of six metres (ground plus one floor), and permission only on plots abutting 30 foot wide roads. According to the associations, such norms would encourage planned development while enabling the state to collect building and development fees.Unified building rulesOfficials told the associations that the govt would examine the proposal in detail and weigh its advantages and drawbacks before taking a call. They indicated that the suggestions could be considered while framing the unified building rules, which the municipal administration department is in the process of finalising. At present, large swathes of land in conservation and bio-conservation zones—particularly GO 111 areas such as Moinabad, Mokila, Shankarpally, Gandipet and surrounding regions—have seen the mushrooming of illegal layouts. Developers have carved out farmhouse plots ranging from 10 to 20 guntas and, in several cases, offered to build farmhouses or weekend homes. Many such plots were sold along with plantations, with developers maintaining them for years by collecting monthly maintenance charges. Legally, however, these plots remain classified as agricultural land. Under existing building and layout rules, no construction is permitted in conservation or bio-conservation zones, and even a small residential structure requires a formal change of land use. Relaxation in GO 111 areasNot all within the real estate fraternity are on the same page. A builders’ association president strongly opposed any relaxation in GO 111 areas, arguing that allowing construction would undermine the very purpose of bio-conservation zones. He also pointed out that several illegal farmhouses and buildings have already come up in these areas. Separately, the state govt agreed to another long-standing demand from developers—allowing clubhouses in plotted layouts. Buyers, developers said, increasingly expect such amenities. The associations proposed that clubhouses be made optional and that partial occupancy certificates be issued for completed layouts, with the final OC linked to whether the clubhouse is constructed. Municipal administration officials accepted the suggestion. The govtt also agreed to integrate no-objection certificates from departments such as fire and mining to streamline approvals. In addition, officials assured developers that various charges, including impact fee, growth corridor fee, development fee, environmental fee and seigniorage, would be rationalised and simplified under the new building rules.
