Hyderabad: In a controversial decision, the Telangana govt’s minority welfare department has allocated a one-acre prime land near Raidurg to a private developer for construction of Urdu Ghar cum Shadikhana and commercial complex on a 30-year lease without following any procedures and tenders. Several Waqf Board members and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi demanded the state govt to immediately scrap the allocation.The state govt has allocated the land in survey no 29 of Dargah Hussain Shah Wali village, Shaikpet in Serlingampally to Urdu Academy 20 years ago. There was a conflict between the state govt and Telangana Waqf Board, with both claiming ownership over the land. The govt had proposed to construct a Shadikhana 10 years ago and even allocated ₹10 crore. But the project never took off.
As the land was being encroached, the Telangana Urdu Academy wrote a letter to the minority welfare department a month ago for utilising the land to prevent further encroachment. Officials said about 1,000 sq yards of total 5,220 sq yards has already been encroached by some people. While the Urdu Academy suggested for the utilisation of the land, the minority welfare department issued a GO allocating the land to one NN Infra and Constructions on lease for 30 years for construction of the Urdu Ghar cum Shadikhana and a commercial complex on Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis. The govt has fixed ₹1 lakh as monthly rent for the one acre land.Official sources said the govt unilaterally allocated the land to a private developer without Urdu Academy’s Board approval and also without calling for tenders.Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi said on X, “The secretary has no power to do so. Such a decision must be approved by Telangana chief secretary after issuing a public notice and inviting suggestions and objections. This entire procedure has been bypassed.”Telangana waqf board member Abul Fateh Syed Bandagi Badesha Quadri said the land belongs to the waqf board, and even in the GO order, it said that the property belongs to Dargah Hussain Shah Wali. “How can such a prime land given to the private builder without following any procedure,” he asked.Telangana Urdu Academy director Md Asadullah said the Academy has only sent the proposal to the state govt for utilisation of the land and also prevent its encroachment. “The govt has taken a policy decision to allot the land to a developer without any financial burden on the govt,” he said. He said the monthly lease rent would be revised every five years.
