A large-scale eviction exercise is imminent on the eastern outskirts of Hyderabad after the Telangana High Court directed authorities to remove nearly 2,000 hutments that have emerged on approximately 60 acres of Bhoodan land over the past two-and-a-half years. Officials estimate the land’s market value at close to ₹2,000 crore, underscoring the high-stakes nature of the dispute in a rapidly urbanising corridor.
The encroachments are concentrated in Papaiguda hamlet of Kuntloor village near Hayatnagar in Abdullapurmet mandal, falling under survey numbers 215 to 224. The court order, issued earlier this month in a contempt matter, instructs the Ibrahimpatnam revenue divisional officer and the Rachakonda police commissionerate to clear the land within a stipulated three-week period from receipt of the directive.The move follows a recent demolition drive on Bhoodan land in Velugumatla near Khammam, where hundreds of temporary structures were removed earlier this week. That operation has heightened concerns among residents in Papaiguda, many of whom have settled in informal clusters lacking basic infrastructure such as piped water, sewage systems and formal electricity connections.
Urban planners say the episode reflects a recurring governance challenge in Hyderabad’s peri-urban belt, where rising land values intersect with housing shortages for low-income migrants. Bhoodan lands — originally donated under a mid-20th century land reform movement for redistribution to the landless — often face unclear title histories and weak ground-level monitoring, making them vulnerable to occupation.Revenue officials indicate that a joint survey and ground verification process is under way to map the full extent of encroachments before enforcement action begins. Law enforcement agencies are expected to coordinate logistical and security arrangements to prevent unrest during clearance operations.
The case also raises broader planning questions. Hyderabad’s eastern growth axis, driven by infrastructure upgrades and connectivity improvements, has seen steady real estate appreciation. However, the absence of adequate affordable housing supply has pushed economically weaker groups towards informal settlements on disputed or unmonitored parcels.Experts caution that while court-mandated eviction ensures legal compliance, long-term urban resilience depends on parallel policy responses — including land record digitisation, proactive protection of public lands and expansion of affordable housing stock within planned layouts. Without these measures, encroachment–eviction cycles are likely to recur as the metropolitan footprint expands.
With the compliance deadline approaching, district authorities face the dual task of upholding judicial orders while managing humanitarian and law-and-order considerations. The outcome could set a precedent for how Telangana handles similar Bhoodan land disputes in high-value urban peripheries.
Also Read:Pune Region Power Rules Shift As MSEDCL Ends Courtesy
Hyderabad Bhoodan Land Faces Major Eviction Drive
