CM Revokes Water Board Allotment, Restores Kokapet Land to Sharada Peetham

In a significant development concerning the lands allotted to Sharada Peetham in the Kokapet area of Hyderabad, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has directed officials to continue the land allotment in favour of the Peetham. The decision follows representations made by the Peetham’s representatives, who informed the Chief Minister about ongoing construction activities on the land under the institution’s supervision, despite its earlier allocation to the Water Board.

The Chief Minister convened a review meeting with senior officials at the State Secretariat to discuss the issue. During the meeting, he sought detailed information from officials regarding the current status of various constructions undertaken by Sharada Peetham on the Kokapet lands. Expressing displeasure, he noted that the full status of the ongoing constructions had not been disclosed at the time the land was allotted to the Water Board.

Taking into account the lack of clarity in the allotment process and the disruption caused to the Peetham’s activities, the Chief Minister ordered the cancellation of the land allocation made to the Water Board and directed that the land be continued in favour of Sharada Peetham. With this decision, the Kokapet land dispute appears to have been resolved. The Peetham’s representatives were also advised to meet Minister Sridhar Babu and furnish comprehensive details regarding the progress of construction and other administrative matters. The decision is expected to provide further impetus to the Peetham’s spiritual and social activities.

Reacting to the development, former minister Tanneeru Harish Rao described the move as a “victory of dharma achieved with the grace of Goddess Raja Shyamala Devi.” Calling it a success of the devotees’ struggle, he remarked on the social media platform X that he was pleased that the Goddess had, “even now, granted the Chief Minister the right wisdom.”

At the same time, Harish Rao criticised the government, questioning the allocation of 17 acres of land by HMDA to associates of the Chief Minister’s son-in-law, alleging that it violated environmental norms and lacked public purpose. He demanded the immediate cancellation of the crusher unit operating there and asserted that the BRS would continue its fight against what he termed anti-people actions.