HYDERABAD: Land acquired for National Highway-765 near Srisailam is being resold by middlemen using outdated records, residents of Kadthal in Rangareddy district have alleged.
Farmers complained to the district collector during a grievance hearing, stating that plots acquired for highway expansion are still shown under original owners' names in revenue records.
Revenue records missing, illegal registrations rise
In Kadthal village, a farmer owned 16.07 acres in Survey No. 894. In 2012, the government acquired 36 guntas for highway expansion. However, the land continues to remain in the farmer's name in official records.
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The same land was reportedly sold in 2014 and later changed hands among three buyers. Middlemen are now using these records to sell nearby vacant plots, claiming proximity to the highway.
Officials said revenue records in offices of two mandals have gone missing. While around 200 acres were acquired earlier under Mahabubnagar district limits, details are available for only 56 acres. These lands are still recorded under farmers' names, with no mutation completed. Farmers continue to receive Rythu Bandhu benefits.
Despite complaints filed over a month ago, no resolution has been reached.
Farmers allege fraud in land acquired for highway
Illegal registrations are reportedly continuing using passbooks still in circulation. In Kadthal revenue limits, 44.20 acres, and in Karkalpahad, 23.25 acres remain under farmers' names.
Officials have not publicly disclosed survey numbers allocated to the highway, allowing unauthorised sales to continue. Around 58 acres in Kadthal alone remain under original ownership in records.
Buyers, unaware of acquisition status, are purchasing these lands as plots. Middlemen are also allegedly showing private company land for sale in the mandal. Several buyers later realised they were cheated.
Officials halt registrations, begin inquiry
With real estate activity increasing due to expansion towards the south and proposed future city developments, land demand has surged in Kadthal and Amangal areas.
During the 2012 highway expansion, about 200 acres were acquired in these mandals. However, mutation entries were not updated in revenue records to reflect government ownership.
Kadthal Tahsildar Jayashree said, "We received complaints about illegal registrations. Orders have been issued to stop registrations. We are collecting details of acquired lands from the collector's office and conducting an inquiry. Action will be taken against those responsible."