Sridhar Babu further asserted that if any irregularities ever occurred in land matters, they happened during the BRS tenure.
Published Nov 21, 2025 | 9:01 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 21, 2025 | 9:01 PM
IT Minister Sridhar Babu Duddila
Synopsis: Countering KTR’s claims, the minister clarified that while 9,292 acres were being cited in public discourse, only 4,740 acres had actually been allotted to industries after proper plotting. The remaining lands, he said, had been used for essential public infrastructure such as roads and drainage networks.
Industries and IT Minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu on Friday, 21 November, launched a counteroffensive against BRS working president KT Rama Rao for his allegations of a “₹5 lakh crore scam” in the government’s move to levy an impact fee for the conversion of industrial lands.
Addressing a news conference at the Secretariat, the minister described KTR’s charge as “malicious propaganda” and said the former minister was misleading the public by twisting facts.
Sridhar Babu questioned how KTR could now object to the government’s land-use conversion policy when the previous BRS administration itself had issued three Government Orders in August 2023 granting freehold — full ownership— rights over industrial lands.
“Was your government not the one that issued GO Ms. 19, 20 and 21 on August 29, 2023, giving freehold rights in Ameerpet, Kukatpally and Hafeezpet?” he asked.
Countering KTR’s claims, the minister clarified that while 9,292 acres were being cited in public discourse, only 4,740 acres had actually been allotted to industries after proper plotting. The remaining lands, he said, had been used for essential public infrastructure such as roads and drainage networks.
“These allocations were made over several decades, not in one stroke, and were part of the state’s long-term industrial development strategy,” he explained.
The minister further emphasised that the Revanth Reddy government was merely offering an option for conversion of industrial lands into other uses, with impact fees levied at the 30 percent and 50 percent slabs approved by the Cabinet on 17 November.
“Just four months before the 2023 elections, you granted freehold rights. How many thousands of crores did you collect then?” he asked, alleging that BRS leaders were now hiding their own actions while levelling baseless accusations.
According to him, KTR’s sudden aggressiveness was a reaction to the ruling Congress’ recent victory in the Jubilee Hills by-election. He said the BRS had misled its own cadre by projecting an impending win and was now attempting to deflect attention through unfounded claims of a scam. “People are not willing to believe such false narratives,” he added.
Sridhar Babu further asserted that if any irregularities ever occurred in land matters, they happened during the BRS tenure. The previous government, he said, forced industries to pay 100 percent of the registration value for ownership rights and 200 percent if the land had changed hands.
“They must explain how they granted ownership rights over properties that had already been transferred earlier,” he said, adding, “In contrast, the current administration was allowing only those holding valid ownership titles to apply for conversion.”
The minister noted that the impact-fee slabs were finalised after multiple consultations with industry bodies, based on proposals submitted jointly by the Special Chief Secretary and the Commissioner of Industries.
Rejecting KTR’s allegation that members of the Chief Minister’s family signed land agreements, he said, “None of them holds any government position. A person who served as minister for ten years making such wild allegations is unacceptable. If he has proof, let him produce it—the government will act immediately.”
Sridhar Babu said the government expected to raise ₹4,000 to ₹5,000 crore from the impact fees, but only if all eligible applicants chose to apply. He reiterated that those lacking ownership rights could not seek conversion under any circumstances.
He also highlighted that the administration had spent the past two years repairing the fiscal damage caused by the previous regime while simultaneously expanding welfare programmes.
The BRS, he alleged, was now attempting to disrupt Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s efforts to stabilise state finances. “We are committed to transforming Hyderabad into a global city,” he said, adding that while the opposition was welcome to cooperate, “misleading campaigns and intimidation tactics must stop.”
Reaffirming the government’s industrial policy, he said that units operating within the Outer Ring Road (ORR) would gradually be shifted outward to curb pollution.
He pointed out that in several other states, industrial land is allotted at nominal rates such as 99 paise per acre along with long tax holidays, whereas Telangana faces both higher land costs and limited availability. Despite this, he said, the government was working to create a robust and supportive industrial ecosystem.
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
