HYDERABAD, NOVEMBER 21, 2024: Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar has directed officials to complete the enumeration of enemy properties under the Custodian of Enemy Property for India (CEPI) in Telangana. He emphasized finalizing the investigation of such properties located in Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, Kothagudem, and Vikarabad districts by the end of December and submitting a report in the first week of January.
The Minister chaired a review meeting on Enemy properties at Hotel Marriott, Hyderabad. Attendees included CEPI officials from the Mumbai division, Revenue Principal Secretary and CCLA Naveen Mittal, the minister’s secretary Andra Vamshi, Ranga Reddy District Collector Narayana Reddy, and revenue officials from Hyderabad, Secunderabad, and Vikarabad divisions.
Enemy properties are assets in India belonging to individuals who migrated to Pakistan or China and acquired citizenship after events such as the 1962 Chinese aggression and the Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971. The Government of India identified these as enemy properties and entrusted their custody to CEPI. Across India, there are records of approximately 13,000 such properties in 21 states and two Union Territories, with a market value running into thousands of crores. Section 8(A) of the Enemy Property Act grants the central government authority to sell these properties. However, many have been encroached upon, and several are tied up in legal disputes.
During today’s two-hour review, Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar received a detailed account of 234 enemy properties in Telangana, with officials noting the following:
– Ranga Reddy district: 180 properties
– Hyderabad: 44 properties
– Kothagudem: 7 properties
– Vikarabad: 3 properties
Officials reported widespread encroachment, including illegal constructions, particularly in prime areas like Miyapur and Kotwal Guda in Ranga Reddy district, and Chikkadpally, Musheerabad, and parts of Old City in Hyderabad.
The Union Minister instructed CEPI to establish a special team to inspect records and conduct surveys of these properties. He also requested the state government to form a dedicated team for the same purpose. Both teams will operate as a joint committee, tasked with completing the record verification and survey by the end of December.
Minister Bandi Sanjay emphasized that a comprehensive report on Telangana’s enemy properties must be submitted by the first week of January. Based on the findings, appropriate actions will be taken to address encroachments and other related issues.
