The endowments officials in Hyderabad are unsure about how to retrieve money from people who were given compensation in exchange for land acquisition by the TSIIC (Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation). They have reached out to the district collector for guidance but are still awaiting a response.
The TSIIC acquired 1,138.12 acres of temple lands belonging to Sri Sita Ramachandra Swamy Temple in Sitarampur, Shabad mandal, Rangareddy district. The government plans to develop an industrial park in these lands. However, it was discovered that 800 acres had been encroached upon by local farmers who registered their names in revenue records under the processors column instead of the temple’s name. Some of these occupiers were paid Rs 21 lakhs per acre.
The officials are now uncertain about how to recover the compensation from these occupiers. They have recently written to the District Collector and are awaiting a reply. It has also been found that even the money issued in the name of the temple was deposited in a private bank instead of a nationalized bank as per the rules. The officials claim they received directions from higher authorities.
There is confusion regarding the location of the deposited money as well. While it was initially stated that the money was held in a fixed deposit in a private bank and would only be accessible in February, a report sent to the commissioner mentioned that it had been deposited in a savings bank account at SBI in Chevella. The official in charge claims to have no information about this as he was not properly informed.
The Rashtriya Vanarasena, an organization that filed a case on this matter, has also met with the Governor and submitted a memorandum. The President of Vanarsena, N Rami Reddy, accused the endowments department, revenue department, and higher officials of colluding with land grabbers and allowing them to manipulate land records and profit from temple lands.
Reddy further alleges that the Endowments department lacks the determination to protect temples and reclaim the thousands of acres of lost temple lands.
