BRS demands probe into Hyderabad’s Kancha Gachibowli land controversy

BRS whip KP Vivekanand welcomes Supreme Court’s observations on felling of trees, points to the report submitted by Central Empowered Committee confirming that disputed land had forest characteristics

Hyderabad: BRS whip KP Vivekanand launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy over the Kancha Gachibowli land issue, demanding an independent probe into alleged financial irregularities worth Rs 10,000 crore.

Speaking to the media at Telangana Bhavan, Vivekanand welcomed the Supreme Court’s observations on the felling of trees in Kancha Gachibowli land, pointing to the report submitted by its Central Empowered Committee (CEC) confirming that the disputed lands had forest characteristics.

“Taking advantage of the court holidays, trees were felled overnight. The Chief Minister has been caught red-handed like a thief,” he alleged.

He said the government paid Rs 170 crore as commission for middlemen to raise Rs 10,000 crore loan and charged Revanth Reddy with misleading the public for massive financial gain. “This government’s greed has come at the cost of green cover and public trust,” he said.

Referring to the CEC’s findings, the BRS MLA demanded that a criminal case be filed against the Chief Minister for environmental destruction in the University of Hyderabad land. He also questioned the inaction of the Central agencies, suspecting that the alleged involvement of a BJP MP in the scandal, might have deterred investigation.

Further, Vivekananda lambasted the Congress regime for damaging Telangana’s image and turning governance into a mockery.

“The Cabinet colleagues of Revanth Reddy themselves are alleging that 20-30 per cent commissions are being taken to clear files. Even contractors are now staging protests inside the Secretariat,” he pointed out.