Land-poolers get duty relief

Minister K.T. Rama Rao announced on Monday that no stamp duty and registration charges would be collected on developed plots handed over to farmers in Uppal Bhagath in lieu of land given to government more than 12 years ago.

HMDA will bear the `35 crore required for registration of the plots.

The minister gave away allotment certificates to farmers, who were earlier given the developed plots measuring 150 sq.yards to 2,000 sq.yards, by drawing lots a few months ago.

For each acre of land that was contributed to the government, the plot owner was given a 1,000sq.yd plot.

The government had acquired nearly 761 acres of land in Uppal Bhagat, Uppal mandal, Ranga Reddy district, for Musi river conservation and riverfront development project. Farmers did not agree for monetary compensation and requested the government to give them developed plots.

Nearly 550 awardees were given allotment certificates pertaining to 1,350 plots, with some of them getting two or more plots of different categories.

Responding to MP Ch Malla Reddy’s request to consider the case of 30 farmers who got Vastu noncompliant plots, Mr Rao assured that HMDA commissioner would look into and address it.

He said the government would be embarking on Musi beautification, along the lines of Sabarmati Riverfront, with an estimated cost of `3,000 crore.

HMDA commissioner T. Chiranjeevulu said that they developed 413 acres in Uppal Bhagath in first phase and another 197 acres would be developed soon.

Owners had given up their land for Musi project, wanted developed plots instead of compensation.

GOVERNMENT returns plots measuring from 150 to 2,000 sq yd depending on the land they gave up.