Hyderabad: In the wake of escalating tensions in Miyapur, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) has announced plans to secure the contentious 450-acre property. This move follows a significant altercation on Saturday when over 2,500 individuals attempted to claim ownership of the land, valued at over Rs 13,000 crore on the open market.
The HMDA has outlined a comprehensive security initiative, budgeted at Rs 4.5 crore, aimed at safeguarding the disputed territory. The measures include the installation of barbed wire fencing encompassing the entire 8 km perimeter of the property. Additionally, surveillance cameras will be strategically placed at key points to monitor the area effectively. Checkpoints will also be established on roads leading to the land to regulate access and prevent unauthorised entry.
An HMDA estates officer explained, “We are implementing a thorough security system to protect this property. The fencing and surveillance are crucial to deterring any further attempts at illegal occupation.”
The confrontation on Saturday saw intermediaries mobilising a large crowd from Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh under the false pretence that they were the rightful owners, or pattadars, of the land. These middlemen allegedly charged each participant Rs 500 for application forms, further fuelling the unrest.
“The situation was exacerbated by these intermediaries who sought to facilitate unauthorised occupation of the prime property,” said a senior HMDA estates officer. “They misled the protestors, leading to a chaotic scene that required police intervention. Some protestors even began erecting huts on the land.”
Police were called to control the crowd, which had become aggressive, resulting in attacks on the officers. Multiple FIRs have been lodged at the Miyapur police station regarding these encroachment attempts, with incidents recorded on May 1, 3, 29, and June 16. The HMDA officials discovered that a group from Gulbarga, with no legal claim or connection to the land, was attempting to encroach on the property.
The Miyapur land has been mired in controversy for over three decades. Since 1993, various housing societies and original pattadars have contested ownership, with the government asserting its claim. The Supreme Court issued a status quo on the property in 2003, temporarily halting any changes in ownership or development.
The HMDA’s current efforts to secure the land underscore the ongoing complexities surrounding property disputes in the region. The enhanced security measures aim to prevent further illegal activities and maintain order while the legal battles over the land continue.
