HYDERABAD
The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has strongly opposed the reported move of the State Government to hand over 15,984 square yards of valuable land belonging to the Telangana Oilfed in the Azamabad Industrial Area to a private individual.
In a letter addressed to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, Deputy Floor Leader of BRS in the Assembly T. Harish Rao alleged that the Congress Government was turning government land into a source of benefit for private individuals.
“Why is the government trying to give it away for just ₹87 crore, when its market value is around ₹500 crore? More importantly, Oilfed itself is ready to pay ₹87 crore to the government. When the government’s own organisation is ready to pay, why choose a private individual?” he asked.
Mr. Harish Rao demanded that the government immediately stop the proposed allocation and ensure that the 15,984 square yard property remains with Telangana Oilfed by granting appropriate freehold rights.
He said the land in Azamabad Industrial Area near RTC Crossroads has a long history going back to 1954. It was originally leased to a private company for running an oil mill. The company violated the lease conditions and sub-leased it for higher rents forcing the government to cancel the lease in 1974, he said.
The private company challenged the decision in the courts. According to the 1987 Supreme Court judgment, the company was left with only 1,277 square yards of land. The remaining 15,984 square yards were taken back by the government and handed over to Oilfed through G.O. No.93 in 1991.
The BRS leader recalled that there was an attempt to revive the cancelled lease through G.O. No.366 in 2003. The government itself issued a show-cause notice to Oilfed in 2015, asking why the GO should not be withdrawn. In 2022, the High Court directed the government to take a final decision on the matter.
Published – August 30, 2026 06:44 pm IST
