Telangana Government Vows to Fulfil Journalists’ Housing Dreams: Ponguleti

Telangana Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy has assured journalists that the state government will fulfil their long-pending demand for house sites, stating that efforts are underway to provide residential plots without legal complications.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the minister said the government was committed to resolving the issue permanently and urged journalists not to worry. He stressed that plots would be provided in suitable residential areas where journalists could build homes and live with their families with dignity.

Recalling the history of the issue, Ponguleti said orders were issued in 2008, during the tenure of former undivided Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, to allot land to the journalists' housing society. However, the process remained stalled for years due to litigation before the Supreme Court. Although legal obstacles were cleared in 2022, the issue was not fully resolved under subsequent governments, he said.

The minister said the government led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had taken up the matter soon after assuming office. As part of its efforts, land was handed over to the journalists' housing society at a programme held at Ravindra Bharathi in Hyderabad on September 8, 2024, following nearly two decades of waiting.

However, fresh legal complications arising from the Supreme Court's final orders created further challenges, highlighting the need for a lasting and legally sound solution.

Ponguleti said he had held several discussions with the chief minister and fellow ministers to review the matter comprehensively. The government was examining all aspects to ensure that the legal problems encountered earlier did not recur.

Reaffirming the government's commitment, the minister said fulfilling journalists' dream of owning a home remained a priority. He noted that journalists played a crucial role in democracy by acting as a bridge between the government and the public. The government would continue to address their long-standing concerns and take steps to ensure their welfare and dignified living conditions, he added.