In Hyderabad, a tense situation unfolded in the Raidurg Paigah area of Serilingampally when teams from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) carried out demolitions. These teams, from the Enforcement and Revenue departments, destroyed unauthorized structures that were built on government land in survey numbers 2, 3, 4, and 5. The demolitions were done under tight security.
The residents affected by the demolitions were upset and claimed they had not been given any prior notice. They protested and tried to stop the demolition teams from continuing their work. The GHMC has been actively identifying and taking down illegal structures across the city, forming special task forces for this purpose. According to official data, nearly 500 illegal structures have been demolished in the past three months.
The land in Raidurg Paigah has been at the center of a dispute for several years. In 2022, the Serilingampally Deputy Commissioner issued a show-cause notice stating that the land belonged to the Telangana State Leather Industries Promotion Corporation Ltd. The land is now planned for the construction of a Rs 213 crore Unity Mall by the Telangana State Trade Promotion Corporation Ltd (TSTPC). The mall, which will be built on 5.16 acres, aims to promote the ‘Make in India’ and ‘One District, One Product’ initiatives, supporting local artisans.
However, Hyderabad Tanneries, represented by Mohammed Mumtaz Ali Khan, challenged the construction of the mall by filing a writ petition. The company claimed ownership of the land and argued that it had not been properly identified as government land under the 1955 Inams Abolition Act. The petition requested that all construction be halted until a thorough land survey is conducted. The firm also sought a court order to prevent the government from interfering with its possession of the land until the legal dispute is resolved.
Despite these claims, officials asserted that Hyderabad Tanneries had encroached on government land and that the demolition was carried out following due legal process. They emphasized that the structures in survey numbers 3, 4, and 5 were illegal. Throughout the demolition, tensions remained high, with officials and police working to maintain control of the situation.
