Hyderabad Oilfed Land Row: Harish Rao Questions ₹87 Crore Transfer of ₹500 Crore Azamabad Property
Hyderabad: A fresh political controversy has erupted over a prime piece of Telangana Oilfed land in Hyderabad’s Azamabad Industrial Area.
BRS leader and former minister T. Harish Rao has opposed the reported proposal to transfer the property to a private party.
The land is located near RTC Cross Roads, opposite the RTC Bus Bhavan.
According to Harish Rao, the property measures around 15,984 square yards, or nearly 3.5 acres.
He claimed that its open-market value is around ₹500 crore.
However, the proposed transfer is reportedly valued at ₹87 crore, prompting strong objections from the BRS leader.
Harish Rao Questions ₹87 Crore Land Deal
Harish Rao has written an open letter to Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy over the reported land transfer.
He questioned why the government was considering handing over the property to a private party.
The BRS leader said Telangana Oilfed itself is ready to pay ₹87 crore for the property.
He claimed that Oilfed has even kept the required funds ready through fixed deposits.
Harish Rao therefore questioned why the state-owned organisation was allegedly being denied the opportunity to retain the land.
He demanded that the reported allocation be cancelled immediately.
He also sought freehold rights for Telangana Oilfed over the entire property.
What Is the History of the Azamabad Land?
The dispute over the Azamabad property dates back several decades.
According to Harish Rao, the land originally measured about 17,261 square yards.
It was reportedly leased to a private company in 1954 for running an oil mill.
The government later cancelled the lease in 1974 after alleged violations of the lease conditions.
The private company challenged the government’s decision in court.
The matter eventually reached the Supreme Court.
Harish Rao said a 1987 Supreme Court judgment left the private company with only about 1,277 square yards.
The remaining 15,984 square yards was subsequently handed over to Oilfed through GO No. 93 in 1991, according to his account.
Why Is the Government’s Decision Being Questioned?
Harish Rao has questioned the reported proposal to retain only around 1,800 square yards with Oilfed.
He alleged that the remaining portion could be transferred to a private party.
The BRS leader said the government should protect valuable public assets.
He also questioned the reported valuation of ₹87 crore against his claimed market value of ₹500 crore.
Harish Rao argued that Oilfed’s willingness to pay ₹87 crore makes the reported transfer to a private party difficult to justify.
He demanded a clear explanation from the state government.
BRS Warns of Protest
Harish Rao warned that the BRS would oppose the move if the reported allocation is not withdrawn.
He said the party would launch a political fight to protect the property.
The BRS leader also criticised what he described as the transfer of valuable government lands to private entities.
He cited several other land-related controversies in Telangana while making his broader political argument.
Harish Rao said government properties should be protected for future generations.
He urged the Revanth Reddy government to reconsider the Azamabad proposal and ensure that the land remains with Telangana Oilfed.
Government Response Awaited
The allegations have been made by BRS leader T. Harish Rao in his open letter to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.
As of the latest reports, a detailed response from the Telangana government addressing his specific allegations was not reported.
The key issues now centre on the proposed transfer, the valuation of the property and the status of Oilfed’s claim over the land.
The Azamabad land dispute is therefore likely to remain a major political issue in Hyderabad in the coming days.