Hyderabad: Many Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs) in Telangana are not using large areas of land given to them by the state long ago. Telangana IT and Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu has urged the Union Government to act quickly to address these issues and protect the state’s interests.
Minister Babu met Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy in New Delhi to discuss this matter. He handed over a memorandum regarding the unused lands of CPSUs.
The minister explained that during the 1960s, the then Andhra Pradesh government allocated significant land to CPSUs to boost industrial growth and create jobs. Some major allocations included Hindustan Cables Ltd. with 324.87 acres, Hindustan Fluorocarbons Ltd. with 126.33 acres, IDPL with 551.03 acres, HMT with 888.05 acres, Cement Corporation of India with 2,272.85 acres, and the Ordnance Factory with 3,020 acres.
Babu expressed concern that many of these enterprises have closed or stopped production, leaving the lands unused. He highlighted reports of plans to sell these lands to private companies without proper compensation or consultation with the state.
“This situation harms the state’s finances and goes against public interest,” Babu stated. He asked for Minister Kumaraswamy’s help in creating clear guidelines to ensure these lands are used effectively for public benefit.
Minister Kumaraswamy promised to prioritize this issue and said a high-level meeting would soon be held to find a solution.
Previously, the state allocated 12,253 acres to 11 central PSUs, but only about 3,600 acres are in use now. The government initially planned to auction the lands for funds but is now reconsidering this approach.
