Harish Rao Demands State Intervention Over Nadargul Land Encroachment Allegations

Hyderabad: T. Harish Rao, the BRS party's deputy floor leader and former minister, has called on Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy to intervene and safeguard government-owned land in Nadargul against what he describes as illegal occupation by real estate developers.

The appeal comes following discussions between Harish Rao and residents of Nadargul who have raised concerns about alleged encroachment on 373 acres of government property. The land in question, located in Survey No. 613 (119) at Kasubagh within Balapur mandal of Ranga Reddy district, is reportedly valued at thousands of crores.

According to the residents, real estate firms have been attempting to seize the land, with claims that police have facilitated these efforts. They report that fencing has been installed across the property and that borewells and irrigation channels have been damaged in the process. Documentation including photographs and video recordings of the alleged destruction have been presented as evidence.

The previous BRS administration, under K. Chandrashekar Rao, pursued legal proceedings in the Telangana High Court to establish and maintain government ownership of the land under the Land Ceiling Act. The current government has also filed a statement before the Supreme Court asserting the land belongs to the state.

Harish Rao has questioned whether the government's "Hydraa" programme, aimed at tackling encroachments, is being applied selectively. He suggested the initiative may be targeting vulnerable populations while overlooking large-scale illegal occupations involving powerful interests, characterizing the situation as a potential conspiracy to privatize state assets.

Following his meetings with the affected farmers, Harish Rao engaged with Ranga Reddy District Collector Narayana Reddy, Police Commissioner V. C. Sajjanar, and district revenue officials. He has demanded the immediate removal of unauthorized fencing, restoration of farming rights to local cultivators, and protection of water resources in the region, including action against those responsible for damaging irrigation infrastructure.

Should authorities fail to resolve the matter, Harish Rao has indicated he will lead a BRS delegation to the site to press for accountability.