Locals eye Dera land

Convicted Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh owns 55 acres in Nalgonda district, of which nine acres comprise assigned land — land given to the poor which cannot be sold.

The 50-acre site was purchased in phases during the last decade.

The issue of purchase of assigned land parcels came to light following complaints by locals.

The government ordered an inquiry following which Chityal mandal revenue officer Vishalaskhmi on Saturday inspected the site and found that the complaint of purchase of assigned land was true. She said the government would initiate steps to take back the assigned land.

The land in Telangana state was purchased from local farmers between 2008 and 2015. The plan was to set up an ashram in Velmanedu in Chityal mandal in Nalgonda district abutting the HyderabadVijayawada highway.

The land, lying in Survey Nos. 98, 102, 132, was registered in the names of Purushotham Lal, Kishan Lal, Satbeer, Chandkrakanth and Chandrababu among a few others.

A compound wall has been built around the 55acre site with the approval of gram panchayat.

There are only two small sheds and a welcome arch. Very recently, the ashram staff had started preparations for construction on the land.

Locals said one Shyamlal, who was said to be based in Hyderabad, had been visiting the land frequently. After locals demanded demolition of compound wall to the extent of 9 acres of assigned land, the ashram officials obtained stay orders from the High Court in March 7.

In April, they applied for regularisation of the property under the land regularisation scheme at Chityal MRO and in May submitted regularisation applications to Nalgonda district joint collector, Chief Commissioner of Land Affairs and the collector.

It is learnt that the Dera chief had invited the Velmanedu sarpanch to his ashram in Haryana two years ago and discussed about building the ashram and had donated `1 lakh for a Ramalayam, construction of a cycle stand in the government school and setting up of a Vivekananda statue in the village.

Ashram in-charge Shyam Lal said that the Dera chief had planned to construct schools, colleges, hotels, an old age home and a hospital on the site.

He said they were not aware that the property that was bought was assigned lands when they purchased it, but got to know of it only during registration.

Locals are now demanding that the government take back the assigned lands and use it for constructing 2BHK houses for the poor or use it for any other public welfare purpose.