Task Force to probe land allotments in Telangana

The Telangana Government on Friday constituted a Task Force to probe into the appropriateness of land allotments made by the previous regimes.

The Task Force, to be headed by retired IAS officer Shyam Kumar Singh as its chairman, will compile a comprehensive record of all lands alienation/allocations/allotments/transfers and leases in Telangana State to ascertain the present use of these lands, stage of their development, status of possession, etc., and create a comprehensive data base. It will specifically pin-point all cases of violations or deviations from the specific and general conditions of land alienation /allocations/allotments/transfers/leases etc.,

As per the orders issued on Friday, the Task Force will build up land records of Jagir lands located in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy district for which no commutation awards have been passed and government have claim.  It will give report on course of action for protection of Endowments/Wakf / Bhoodan lands in and around Hyderabad. It will advise the government on obtaining speedy disposal of cases in various courts and recommend further action as per due process to be followed in such cases.

The State Government has claimed that a large number of cases need to be inquired into for verifying the appropriateness of land allotments made previously. "In a number of cases, lands allotted or alienated by the government have not been put to the intended use. As per the policy of the Government, these cases require a thorough scrutiny and further necessary action as per Law. Preparation of inventory and land records for Endowments / Wakf / Bhoodan lands in and around Hyderabad is also required. In order to resolve the above issues and to submit special and periodical reports to Government/Chief Commissioner of Land Administration from time to time, on further course of action for protection of lands, the State Government has constituted a Task Force," Chief Secretary Dr Rajiv Sharma said in the GO Ms No 1261 issued by General Administration (SC.A) Department.

The Task Force has been appointed for a period of two years with and has been be authorized to inspect the lands and call for reports/records from the concerned officers and seek their assistance in its work.