Congress government’s double-bedroom housing audit puts over 30,000 families at risk of eviction

Congress government is reportedly preparing to review and possibly cancel over 30,000 double-bedroom house allotments in Hyderabad after an occupancy survey found large-scale non-residency. The move, linked to a new housing strategy, has sparked political controversy and opposition backlash

Hyderabad: The Congress government in Telangana is quietly gearing up to cancel double-bedroom house allotments in and around Hyderabad, which could render over 30,000 poor families homeless. The same homes will be repaired and repainted to be sanctioned under the Indiramma Illu housing scheme.

The Housing Department conducted an occupancy verification survey in double-bedroom housing colonies built during the previous BRS regime across Greater Hyderabad. Of nearly 70,000 double-bedroom houses allotted before the 2023 Assembly elections, nearly 50 per cent of beneficiaries were allegedly not currently residing in them. In Kollur alone, where 38,000 houses were allotted, 16,000 beneficiaries were reportedly found absent.

---

Survey validates BRS’ housing record

Ironically, the survey has not only exposed the scale of the proposed action, but also inadvertently validated the long-standing claim of the BRS that over one lakh double-bedroom houses were constructed across Hyderabad and surrounding urban clusters during its regime. The Congress, which had aggressively questioned these numbers in opposition, is now using the very data that confirms them as a pretext for cancellations.

The survey also revealed why beneficiaries were absent, and it has little to do with fraud. A significant number are poor daily wage earners whose livelihoods are located 25 to 30 km from their allotted houses. Unable to afford daily commutes of that distance, they continue living near their workplaces. Less than 10 per cent of allotments allegedly involved incorrect eligibility details, and some beneficiaries in prime GHMC areas have rented out their units, but these are a minority.

Notices issued for explanation

The government issued notices to non-occupant beneficiaries six months ago, followed by a second round three months later. But compliance remained poor as the underlying problem of distance from livelihoods remained unaddressed. Rather than resolving this structural gap, the government is now preparing a new rule restricting allotments to families living within 8 to 10 kilometres of the housing complex, effectively disqualifying thousands of legitimate beneficiaries.

Shops meant for maintenance headed for auction

Equally controversial is the government’s decision to auction commercial shops built within the double-bedroom complexes. These shops were originally designed by the BRS government to generate rental income for the day-to-day maintenance of housing towers as part of a self-sustaining model. The Congress government has abandoned it, opting instead to auction the shops, deposit proceeds in joint government-society accounts, and use only the interest for upkeep.

According to the officials, a pilot auction in select areas reportedly generated Rs 130 crore. But opposition leaders argued that trading a recurring rental stream for a one-time windfall is fiscally shortsighted and the maintenance of these towers will suffer within a few years. Several MLAs, including some from the ruling party, have opposed the auction model.

BRS opposes Congress govt’s move

BRS MLC Dasoju Sravan called the Congress government’s move to cancel dignity house allotments as politically vindictive and unconstitutional, accusing it of using administrative machinery to settle political scores at the expense of the poor. He said every allotment under the BRS government’s double-bedroom scheme had undergone multi-layered field verification by revenue officials, cross-referencing with socio-economic databases, and a transparent draw of lots.

“To brand this scrutinised process as irregular is a blatant lie designed to mask the Congress government’s own failure to deliver on its housing promises,” he said.

He demanded the immediate withdrawal of all such proposals and urged the government to focus instead on completing basic infrastructure in the existing colonies. He warned that if the Congress government proceeded with evictions, the BRS would launch State-wide agitations and challenge the move in the High Court.