Telangana’s New Layout Regularisation Scheme Sparks Protests

Hyderabad: Telangana government’s recent order on the implementation of Layout Regularisation Scheme (LRS) to legalise unauthorised plots and layouts in both urban and rural areas has triggered protests demanding its withdrawal. The protesters have alleged that the government is charging massive amounts for registration of plots.

On Tuesday, members of Telangana State Realtors Association held demonstrations at registration offices across Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation opposing the scheme and terming it as ‘untimely’ amid disruptions due to COVID-19 pandemic

In its order number 131, the state government has given the last chance for registration of unauthorised plots and layouts across the state and claimed to end registration window thereafter.

INFLATED PRICE ISSUE

The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government is levying four times higher registration charges which will impact low income families and middle classes, said G Nagaiah of Communist Party of India (Marxist). Criticising the government for considering LRS as an income generating source, the CPI(M) has called for state-wide protests on September 9 demanding its withdrawal.

Besides registration fees, to obtain LRS clearance, the applicants have to pay basic regularisation charges at the rate of Rs 200 per sq metre for plot area of less than 100 sq metres, Rs 400 for area of 101 to 300 sq metres, Rs 600 for area of 301 to 500 sq metres and Rs 750 per sq metres for area above 500 sq metres.

Further, They also have to pay regularisation charges as per the land value amounting to 25% of market value of land up to Rs 3,000 per sq yard (1 yard = 0.914 metre), 50% of market value of Rs 3,001 to Rs 5,000 per sq yard, 75% of market value of Rs 5,001 to Rs 10,000 per sq yard and 100% of market value of land for more than Rs 10,000 per sq yard.

The government has fixed a deadline for the payment of charges till the end of January 2021. The government has also made LRS compulsory for all future registrations.

“The government needs to review the LRS as there is large-scale resentment among common people,” said former Member of the Legislative Council, Nageshwar Rao. He said if the LRS is implemented, as notified in the current form, there is going to be a massive financial burden on people who are already reeling under a crisis due to the pandemic.

A member of Telangana State Realtors Association said, “LRS is welcome but the charges are running into lakhs of rupees even for small pieces of plots. The government should revise the charges to nominal rates.”

“We want the government to discuss the issue with all political parties and adopt a scientific approach towards legalising open plots,” said Challa Vamshi Chand Reddy of Congress while demanding the government to withdraw its order on the scheme.

REVENUE REFORMS

On Monday, Telangana state cabinet cleared ‘The Telangana Abolition of the Posts of Village Revenue Officers Bill, 2020’ with the aim to abolish the village revenue officer and village revenue assistant system. It also passed ‘The Telangana Rights in Land and Pattadar Passbooks Bill, 2020’ aiming to bring in new revenue reforms in the state during the ongoing Assembly sessions.

 Subsequently, the government stopped property registrations across the state till further orders.

“The government is taking unilateral decisions in bringing revenue reforms. While it is important to make changes in the revenue system, the government must involve political parties, civil society organisations and employees unions before deciding on the reforms. The government’s attitude is only creating fear among people as about 17 lakh acres of land is under various forms of dispute at revenue departments,” said Tammineni Veerabhadram, state secretary of CPI(M).