₹3,000 Cr at Stake in Forgotten Boundary Battle

In the heart of Telangana, a boundary dispute that has festered for over sixty years remains unresolved, ensnaring nearly 600 acres of land valued at an astounding ₹3,000 crore. This contentious issue involves Ankireddypalli village in Medchal Malkajgiri district and Ramalingampalli village in Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district, where conflicting claims have led to a stalemate. As the state government embarks on a comprehensive re-survey of land records across more than 2,200 villages, the fate of this land hangs precariously in the balance, exacerbating tensions among residents and landowners alike.

The crux of the dispute lies in differing interpretations of land ownership. Villagers assert that large swathes of land within survey numbers 918, 886, and 887 are government and ceiling lands that have suffered encroachment, while private landowners, including the controversial Salvo Industries, maintain that these parcels are legally acquired patta lands. Despite directives from the Telangana High Court mandating a survey to ascertain the boundaries and land classifications, the process has stagnated, leaving unresolved claims that have persisted through multiple official interventions since the initial surveys conducted in the 1960s.

Historically, this boundary dispute traces its roots back to a formal survey in January 1965, which initially allocated the disputed lands to Ankireddypalli. As the Land Ceiling Act was instituted in 1975, eligible farmers received portions of this land, further complicating ownership claims. Villagers have raised concerns about additional survey numbers being created over the same land, fostering overlapping rights and allegations of encroachment that remain unaddressed despite numerous state efforts to mediate. The persistence of these conflicting claims has rendered the situation increasingly untenable, marred by a lack of transparency and accountability in the survey process.

In light of the ongoing uncertainty, residents of Ankireddypalli and representatives from Salvo Industries have engaged in a war of words regarding the legitimacy of their claims. A Jayaram Reddy, chairperson of Salvo Industries, argues that the issue stems from overlapping survey records rather than unlawful encroachment, asserting that his company has diligently sought resolution through legal channels. As both sides await clarity from the government and the courts, the specter of this protracted dispute looms large over the communities involved, underscoring the urgent need for a decisive resolution to a problem that has lingered for generations.