Telangana approves 30-year lease of Urdu Academy land to private company

The Minorities Welfare Department's approval to lease over one acre of Urdu Academy land in Serilingampally to a private company for 30 years has sparked concerns. Community members have questioned the absence of a tender process and sought cancellation of the government order

Hyderabad: The Minorities Welfare Department’s decision to approve the lease of one acre of Urdu Academy land in Serilingampally to a private construction company for 30 years has triggered concerns within the Muslim community and drawn objections.

The department has permitted the Urdu Academy to lease out 1.04 acres (5,220 square yards) in Survey No. 29 of Dargah Hussain Shah Wali village, Serilingampally, to N.N. Infra & Constructions. The company will construct an Urdu Ghar-cum-Shadikhana and a commercial complex. The department issued GO Ms. No. 20 on July 16. However, the order has not been placed in the public domain, leading to apprehensions among community members.

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The project will be executed on a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) basis, with the private company bearing the construction cost. The government order states that the property cannot be alienated, sold or mortgaged, and that ownership rights will remain with the Urdu Academy.

Traditionally, the department invited tenders for the construction of Urdu Ghars and Shadikhanas. District Collectors constituted managing committees comprising the local Tahsildar as member-convener, three or four elders from the Muslim community, and a member of the Urdu Academy Board. These committees supervised the construction of Shadikhanas.

Community members have questioned the department’s decision to lease the prime land to a private company without inviting tenders.

Former Wakf Board member Wahed Ahmed said this was perhaps the first time in the Urdu Academy’s history that such a large parcel of prime land had been leased to a private company without a tender process. “What was the reason for leasing the land to this particular company for 30 years? Were all due procedures followed?” he asked.

He said the issue would be taken up with the government and that a representation would be submitted to the department seeking cancellation of the order.

Interestingly, the Minorities Welfare Department allocated Rs 12 crore in the current Budget for the preservation and promotion of the Urdu language and culture, as well as the construction of Shadikhanas. Despite this, the department opted to lease the land to a private company.