Revenue Minister Ponguleti blames BRS for 22A prohibited land list mess

Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, who had earlier apologised to property owners over the prohibited lands controversy, on Saturday accused the previous BRS government of creating the problem.

Hyderabad: Days after blaming revenue officials for the prohibited lands controversy and apologising for the hardship caused to property owners, Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy on Saturday changed tack on the Assembly floor, seeking to pin the controversy on the previous BRS government. Further, he argued that the Congress government was cleaning up an inherited mess.

During a short-duration discussion on prohibited lands, Srinivas Reddy claimed that 1,02,05,250 acres were in the 22-A list as of August 31, including 96,36,777 acres of government agricultural land, 3,73,930 acres of private agricultural land, 1,94,543 acres of non-agricultural land and 5,12,792 acres of endowment land.

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He argued that the problem was not created by the Congress government. He said the prohibited-list extent actually fell by 47,440 acres since the BRS left office, with 23,000 acres restored to people and another 20,000 acres removed after errors in old government orders were identified.

The Revenue Minister broadened the attack, accusing the BRS of exploiting the Dharani portal for land irregularities. He admitted that around 25,000 houses were covered in the 22A list and acknowledged that several decades ago the government itself had assigned land to poor people for housing. He sought suggestions on resolving ownership issues in assigned lands.

Srinivas Reddy questioned why a government that ruled for a decade had failed to resolve longstanding disputes over assigned lands. He reiterated the government’s plan to complete a comprehensive land survey across Telangana within the next 18 months. Pilot surveys were already underway in 70 revenue villages in each district, he said.

He alleged that both BRS and BJP were following the same script on the 22A issue to target the ruling Congress. He criticised BRSLP deputy leader T Harish Rao and BJP floor leader Alleti Maheshwar Reddy for alleging that around 42,000 acres in Yadadri Bhongir district were wrongfully included in the prohibition list. He also attacked BRS for holding a mock Assembly and found fault with the issues raised during it.