Dharmapuri land losers allege forced acquisition, seek fair compensation

Landowners in Dharmapuri, Jagtial district, have accused the Telangana government of forced acquisition for a temple development project without proper consultation or social impact assessment. They allege compensation has been fixed at rates far below market value.

Hyderabad: The Dharmapuri Temple Development Land Losers Association has raised serious concerns over what it calls forcible land acquisition by the state government, demanding higher compensation for property owners affected by the proposed temple development project in Dharmapuri, Jagtial district.

Association member Ranga Ashok said the government issued a notification in 2022 proposing the acquisition of 17 properties and several acres of land along the Godavari River without preparing or publishing a Detailed Project Report (DPR) or conducting a Social Impact Assessment.

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“Even after repeated requests, officials have not shared the DPR or social impact study. We have been kept completely in the dark,” another property owner Ravi Shankar said.

The association members expressed dissatisfaction with the handling of the acquisition process, claiming that despite assurances from local MLA and current minister Adluri Laxman Kumar that no forcible acquisition would take place without consultations, officials proceeded unilaterally.

They alleged that the District Collector and Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) finalized compensation awards without engaging property owners and based them on government land values significantly lower than prevailing market rates.

According to the landowners, the market value in areas surrounding the temple is approximately Rs 30,000 per square yard. However, the government has reportedly fixed compensation at only Rs 6,600 per square yard (Rs 2,100 per sq yard and offered three times more), which is less than a quarter of the market rate.

Another landowner, Ranga Ashok, pointed out discrepancies in valuation: “The government froze property registrations in 2021 and is now calculating compensation based on a registration value of Rs 2,100 per square yard. Even after tripling it, the amount remains unfair.”

The association also alleged that officials have warned landowners that compensation could be deposited in court if agreements are not reached, forcing property owners into prolonged legal battles.

They also noted that in projects like the Kaleshwaram temple development, consultations were held with religious institutions such as Sringeri Peetham, whereas no such engagement has taken place in the Dharmapuri case.

The land losers said the BRS government had consulted and convinced land and property land losers by offering higher compensation for Vemulawada temple development project,

According to the association, land acquisition officers have conveyed that they are under pressure to expedite the process in preparation for the upcoming Godavari Pushkarams next year. It is also alleged that the government has allocated only Rs 20 crore for the project, including compensation and R&R packages, and has directed officials to complete compensation payments within this limited budget.

The affected landowners have appealed to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy to intervene in the matter and ensure fair compensation. “We request the Chief Minister to look into our grievances and ensure justice by providing compensation that reflects the true market value of our properties,” the association urged.