In a victory for ordinary people, the Hyderabad District Revenue Authority (HYDRA) has demolished a contentious boundary wall in Pocharam, Medchal-Malkajgiri district, resolving an eight-year struggle for plot owners. The jubilant owners likened their victory to achieving independence.
The issue originated in Pratapsingaram village where a 27-acre layout was established under survey numbers 315, 316, and 317 in 1978. This layout, approved by the Gram Panchayat and later coming under municipal limits, contained approximately 400 plots.
However, issues arose when Malipeddi Madhusudhan Reddy, son of one of the land partners, applied through the Dharani portal, creating a passbook for agricultural land within the layout. He subsequently began receiving funds under the Rythu Bandhu scheme. More controversially, he constructed a boundary wall around 6.14 acres of the layout, causing outrage among the 88 plot owners within this area.
Following complaints from the plot owners to the local revenue officials and the district collector, the Rythu Bandhu scheme funding was cancelled, but the boundary wall remained, blocking access to their plots and sparking an eight-year dispute.
In a turn of events, representatives of the Bhavani Nagar Welfare Association lodged a complaint with HYDRA’s Prajavani. Upon reviewing the complaint, HYDRA Commissioner Shri AV Ranganath ordered a field-level inquiry, which revealed that the entire 27-acre area was part of the layout and that no official permissions had been granted for the construction of the boundary wall.
Following the inquiry and a meeting with all the involved parties, HYDRA ruled in favor of the plot owners and ordered the demolition of the boundary wall. The removal of the wall was met with jubilation by the plot owners, who celebrated their ‘plot’ freedom, raising slogans in support of the government and HYDRA.
As a result of HYDRA’s intervention, the ordinary plot owners can now directly access their plots. Expressing their gratitude to HYDRA officials, they rejoiced, saying it felt like they had gained independence.
