A contentious land dispute has unfolded in Kuntloor near Hayathnagar, Hyderabad, where approximately 80 acres of Bhoodan land and private property worth over ₹1,500 crore have allegedly been encroached upon, leading to a legal and political uproar in the region. The encroachment, which reportedly involved the establishment of around 3,000 huts, has sparked a heated debate over ownership and regularization.
The issue, which dates back several years, recently escalated with allegations that local politicians encouraged the establishment of these huts just before the November 2023 assembly elections. Some reports indicate that plots as small as 40 square yards were sold for ₹30,000, and 50 square yard plots for ₹50,000, facilitating the construction of these dwellings.
Leaders backing the encroachers have reportedly gone a step further, facilitating the construction of amenities such as tanks, bathrooms, and mud roads to solidify the encroachments’ permanence. This move has led to heightened tensions, with political figures guarding the disputed land to prevent potential eviction by authorities.
Official sources revealed that conflicting claims over the land involve both the Bhoodan Board and private pattadars, with approximately 100 acres contested under survey numbers 215 to 224 in Palaiahguda, Kuntloor. The complexity of the dispute is compounded by ongoing legal battles, with 20 cases currently pending in various courts, each claiming rightful ownership.
The situation took a legal turn when the tahsildar of Abdullapurmet attempted unsuccessfully to remove the encroachments during the assembly elections. Subsequently, the High Court intervened, instructing the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) of Ibrahimpatnam to take action under CrPC section 145 to protect the land. However, a contempt petition was filed due to the RDO’s alleged inaction in enforcing the court’s directives.
Amidst mounting pressure, political leaders, including CPI representatives, recently met Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to seek regularization of the encroachments, particularly on Bhoodan land. The CM indicated that while governmental consideration would be given if the land is indeed under Bhoodan jurisdiction, private land encroachments may not receive state support. As the legal battle intensifies and public sentiment polarizes, stakeholders await further judicial and administrative decisions to resolve the complex issue of land ownership and regularization in Hyderabad’s Kuntloor area.
