Telangana’s new land transformation policy faces legal scrutiny after High Court admits PIL
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Telangana’s flagship land-use reform — the Hyderabad Industrial Land Transformation Policy (HILTP) — has entered legal uncertainty after the state High Court on Friday admitted a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging its validity.
The PIL, filed by veteran social activist and retired professor K. Purushotham Reddy, prompted the court to issue notices to the state government, the Telangana Industrial Infrastructure Corporation, and the Union Ministries of Health and Environment.
All respondents have been directed to file counter-affidavits.
While the court has not stayed the policy, the issuance of notices means any further action by the government will now be subject to judicial review, effectively placing HILTP in a state of limbo.
The HILTP was designed to convert underutilised or defunct industrial zones — particularly those in and around the Outer Ring Road (ORR), including Kukatpally, Balanagar, and Nacharam — into integrated, multi-use urban centres. The plan seeks to generate significant revenue by imposing a Development Impact Fee (DIF) of 30–50% of Sub-Registrar Office rates on landowners opting for land-use conversion.
The government has positioned the policy as a pathway to modernise ageing industrial estates, reduce pollution, and integrate these areas into Hyderabad’s expanding urban landscape.
Reddy’s petition argues the policy marks a drastic shift from established planning norms and risks major ecological damage, citing the absence of comprehensive environmental impact assessments for the large-scale construction expected.
The PIL contends the conversion of thousands of acres into dense residential and commercial hubs will place unsustainable pressure on water supply, sewage systems, and transportation networks.
It further alleges the government order behind HILTP supersedes Hyderabad’s Master Plan and its zonal regulations without adequate public consultation, raising concerns over democratic due process.
The policy has also faced political criticism, with opposition leader K.T. Rama Rao alleging it is linked to a massive “₹4.5 lakh crore land scam.”
If the court upholds the concerns raised, the state may be compelled to undertake extensive environmental and infrastructural reviews — or, in a more severe scenario, face cancellation of the policy altogether.
The case is expected to shape Hyderabad’s long-term urban development strategy, with implications stretching far beyond the immediate legal challenge.