Sridhar Babu Rejects KTR Land Allegations at Gandhi Bhavan

Telangana Industries Minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu on Wednesday strongly rejected allegations made by BRS working president K T Rama Rao concerning land allocations, speaking to the media following a face-to-face meeting at Gandhi Bhavan in Hyderabad. Defending the Congress administration's actions, Sridhar Babu stated that the government has allotted land strictly in accordance with prescribed rules and regulations while accusing KTR of misleading the public with false statements on state issues.

Addressing specific figures cited in the controversy, Sridhar Babu countered allegations over land pricing by contrasting the current administration's records with those of the previous BRS regime. The Minister stated that the Congress government allotted land at a rate of Rs 1.50 crore per acre, whereas the former BRS government had allotted land at Rs 90 lakh per acre. He stated that the government allotted five acres for Rs 7.5 crore, and challenged KTR to explain the basis for a Rs 200 crore figure that the BRS leader had quoted.

Sridhar Babu warned against actions that could hamper economic growth in the state, stating that the HILT policy would ultimately benefit the people of Hyderabad. He cautioned KTR against creating fear among prospective industrialists and urged him not to direct his political anger toward the citizens of Telangana, adding that obstructing the development of the state was not in the public interest.

Criticising the opposition party's strategy, the Minister characterized the BRS approach as Goebbels-style propaganda. He asserted that the public had already rejected such tactics in recent electoral contests, including the Lok Sabha and local body elections. Sridhar Babu emphasized that the Congress government was continuing policies established by previous administrations where appropriate for development.

In addition to land allocation matters, Sridhar Babu raised concerns over water rights and agricultural management in Telangana. He alleged that the previous BRS government had caused serious damage to the state's interests regarding water allocation, reiterating that the current government will not compromise on securing Telangana's rightful share of water resources.

To address these water concerns, the Minister confirmed that the Telangana state government will participate in the upcoming Godavari River Management Board meeting to strongly present its arguments for the state's rightful share. Sridhar Babu further challenged KTR to explain to the state's farmers the exact price received for the paddy grown at former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao's farmhouse.