Telangana cancels Urdu Academy land allotment to private firm

The Telangana government has cancelled the allotment of 1.04 acres of Urdu Academy land in Serilingampally to NN Infra & Constructions following protests and criticism. The Minorities Welfare department had issued GOMs No. 20 last month, leasing the land at Survey No. 29, Dargah Hussain Shah Wali village, to the private company for 30 years to build an Urdu Ghar-cum-Shadikhana and commercial complex on a build, operate and transfer basis. The order was criticised by the BRS, Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, and other Muslim leaders for bypassing procedure.

Times of India reports that the department will now call for fresh tenders for leasing the land. Telangana Today notes that former BRS leader Waheed Ahmed welcomed the cancellation as a victory for public accountability. He urged the government to develop the site into a permanent Urdu Academy building, auditorium, library, research centre, and cultural complex.