Harish Rao Demands Clarity On 22A Land Restrictions

Former minister and BRS MLA T. Harish Rao has accused the Congress government of putting ordinary families through hardship over land disputes involving properties listed under Section 22A, and demanded clarity on the purpose behind the restrictions.

Harish Rao was speaking at a meeting held with families affected by the 22A land restrictions in the Kukatpally Assembly constituency. The meeting was organised under the leadership of MLA Madhavaram Krishna Rao, with Harish Rao interacting with the affected residents and hearing their grievances.

Questioning the government’s priorities, Harish Rao asked why it was focusing on land-related issues when people continued to need better education, healthcare, drinking water, electricity, transport and employment, besides support for farmers. He contrasted the previous BRS administration with the present government, claiming that while people were at the centre of governance under K. Chandrashekar Rao, land had become the focus after A. Revanth Reddy became Chief Minister.

Highlighting the BRS government’s record, Harish Rao said its decade-long administration had prioritised drinking water, power supply, irrigation and traffic management. He cited 24-hour electricity supply, drinking water connections and infrastructure projects in Hyderabad, including several flyovers aimed at easing congestion.

He said the BRS government had also invested hundreds of crores in Kukatpally to address drinking water requirements by developing reservoirs, pipelines and related infrastructure. According to him, healthcare facilities were expanded through TIMS hospitals and more than 20 Basti Dawakhanas in Kukatpally, while welfare initiatives such as Kalyana Lakshmi and Aasara pensions were among the programmes associated with the previous administration.

Harish Rao further alleged that the present government was giving greater priority to selling government land than resolving public grievances. He claimed that land belonging to institutions such as the Housing Board and TGIIC was being offered for sale and alleged that government properties worth around ₹30,000 crore had been sold since the Congress came to power.

He also raised concerns over assigned lands, alleging that properties purchased by economically weaker families were being placed on the 22A prohibited list, leaving them unable to freely deal with their assets.

Calling government land an asset meant for future generations, Harish Rao opposed its sale and promised to continue fighting on behalf of families affected by the restrictions. He said the BRS would wage an “uncompromising fight” for the protection of common people’s property rights and against what he described as the Congress government’s land policies.