Concerns are raised by the Telangana government’s U-turn on Sindhu Foundation land
The Congress administration’s reversal on the granting of public land to the Sai Sindhu Foundation for the building of a hospital has caused some scoffing in the political world.
The plan to provide the Foundation 15 acres of land at Khanamet in Serilingampally, Rangareddy district, was reexamined and delayed by the Congress government in January. However, the Congress administration reallocated the property and raised the lease price two months later.
It should be mentioned that in April 2023, A Revanth Reddy, the leader of the opposition, condemned the Foundation’s property allotment as “illegal” and voiced his objection.
Remarkably, the Sai Sindhu Foundation is led by B Parthasaradhi Reddy, who is also the chairman of the Hetero Group. In 2022, the BRS proposed him for the Rajya Sabha.
The Foundation was first granted the land in 2018 by the BRS government.
Not only did the Revenue Department reallocate the land to the foundation on March 14, 2024, but it wasn’t until Aleti Maheshwar Reddy, the BJP leader in the Legislative Assembly, expressed disapproval of the Congress government’s actions, that the problem was brought to light.
The hospital offers employment opportunities to over 7,000 people, and the recruiting process moves swiftly. There are now 200 workers at work. Modern, very sophisticated equipment has been installed or is in the process of being installed. The government was informed by the Foundation that the Trust had already spent Rs 446 crore and that an extra Rs 100 crore had been allocated for the latter portion of the first phase’s construction. The Foundation also requested that the government take a second look at the matter and increase the present lease rates from Rs 30 lakh to Rs 60 lakh per year, or an equivalent sum.
On March 14, 2024, the government issued an order (GO 37) rescinding the abeyance orders and increasing the lease fee to Rs 5 lakh per acre year (or a total of Rs 75 lakh annually) with a 5% annual increase in lease rent after considering the request.
Taking into Account
March 23, 2018: The BRS government grants permission for the Sai Sindhu Foundation in Khanamet to construct a non-profit cancer hospital on 15 acres. The 30-year lease has the option to be extended for an additional 30-year term.
The leasing price is fixed at Rs 1,47,743 per year for the first three years, and it increases by 5% every three years after that.
On June 5, 2023, a High Court bench hears a writ case filed by Urmila Pingle. The matter is sent back to the state for more consideration when the court strikes aside the GO.
On September 25, 2023, the BRS government issues guidelines that allocate 15 acres and set a lease charge of Rs 2 lakh per acre, with a 5% yearly increase in the leasing rate.
January 29, 2024: After reconsidering the matter, the Congress government revokes the BRS administration’s instructions.
The Sai Sindhu Foundation gets in touch with the Congress government in February 2024, indicating that the hospital’s construction is almost complete and proposing to launch the first phase in March of the same year.
Reversing the abeyance orders and increasing the lease fee to Rs 5 lakh per acre year, for a total of Rs 75 lakh annually, with a 5% annual increase, GO 37 was issued on March 14, 2024.
