Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) commissioner D. Ronald Rose has issued instructions not to sanction building/layout permissions for structures/layouts proposed in lands which have been regularised under the G.O.59 on or after August 17, 2023 in the Rangareddy, Medchal-Malkajgiri and Sangareddy districts.
The orders have been issued to the chief city planner, all the zonal commissioners, additional city planners, city planners, deputy commissioners, deputy city planners, assistant city planners, town planners, and others.
They came after a written request from the Chief Commissioner, Land Administration (CCLA) to the commissioners of the GHMC and the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA), not to issue building/layout permissions on the strength of the conveyance deeds executed and registered on or after August 17, 2023 with respect to the regularised lands under GO 59 in the aforesaid districts until further instructions.
CCLA is taking up reverification of the applications and conveyance deeds with regard to the regularisations, in view of certain complaints about fraudulent deals. In case of doubt, the officials may consult the respective district collectors.
G.O. 59 was first issued on December 30, 2014 by the erstwhile BRS regime for regularisation of “unobjectionable” government lands and surplus land under the Urban Land (Ceiling & Regulation) Act, 1976, upon payment of prescribed monetary consideration.
The initial prescribed price for residential encroachments was 50% of the basic value for possession up to 250 square yards, 75% for 500 square yards, and 100% of the basic value for over and above 500 square yards. For non-residential encroachments, the total basic value was to be paid irrespective of the extent.
A month later, on January 30, 2015, the government issued orders revising the amount payable. Accordingly, families below poverty line where the dwelling unit exceeds the extent of 125 square yards (which was to be regularised free of cost as per another order) up to 150 square yards, the cost payable was 10% of the basic value in notified slums, and 25% in case of other areas. For non-BPL families too, the price payable was brought down by 25 percentage points in each slab.
Though only encroachments by way of functional building units should be considered for regularisation as per the government orders, allegations are rife about expensive vacant lands being regularised at throwaway prices, especially in the city’s peripheries.
