Former Minister and Cngress MLC Shabbir Ali accused the TRS Government of trying to wipe out lung space from the Telangana State. Addressing a press conference in Assembly premises here Shabbir Ali referred to 25 GOs that were issued for the change of land use. Of 25, as many as 23 were issued from January 5 to 8. He said over 145 Acres of land in HMDA limits has been converted from Conservation Zone to residential use through seven GOs. One such GO (Ms 15) was issued on October 28. He said all lands – Nursery, Open Space and even Parks – have been converted. The government issued two orders changing land use from Parks to Residential in Warangal district. Similarly, 17.5 acres of Industrial and Green Belt in Kamareddy of Nizamabad district has been converted into residential use.
Shabbir Ali that the cash-starved TRS Government has been aiming to raise funds through all means. He said that the Congress party had welcomed the government’s decision to regularise up to 125 sq yards of encroachments in Hyderabad. However, the government is on the spree of selling away all available lands. If this continues, then there will be no land left even for the government to construct any institution like school. He accused Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao of having failed to run the government in a proper manner. From Rs 10,000 crore surplus State, Telangana in now a bankrupt State, he claimed.
Finding fault with the Government for targeting the Conservation Zone. He said that the entire State would become a desert if no lung space is left out, he opined that the Chief Minister should seek funds from the Centre instead of selling away lands and will support for the purpose. KCR is not seeking funds as there must be some ‘match-fixing’ or he has any guts he alleged.
Shabbir Ali urged the NGOs and environmentalists to raise the issue and oppose the change of Conservation Zones in the State, especially on the city’s outskirts. He also demanded that the State Government cancel all the GOs and stop changing the land use in other cases too (NSS)