Rising land values crush dreams of poor: Mallanna

Metro India News | Hyderabad 

Telangana’s recent hike in land market values will boost state revenue but slam ordinary families, warned MLC Teenmaar Mallanna. He said the government’s claim that values were revised to match the market ignores how those costs are being passed to buyers. “This is development for the treasury, not for people,” Mallanna said.

The increases vary: agricultural land about 2.75%, rural open plots up to 78%, open plots around Hyderabad up to 100%, and in some pockets up to 500%. Higher market values mean larger stamp duty and registration fees, making home purchases costlier. Mallanna gave an example: a plot valued earlier at Rs 30 lakh rising to Rs 45 lakh would increase stamp duty from Rs 1.2 lakh to Rs 1.8 lakh, adding significant financial pressure on middle-class families.

He noted that lakhs in Telangana still lack homes and many depend on loans or rented accommodation. “While the government gains more revenue, the poor, youth and small employees pay the price,” he said, adding that big developers, large landowners and banks stand to benefit.

Mallanna demanded immediate relief measures: withdraw hikes for small plots, exempt first-time homebuyers from stamp duty, provide registration concessions for low-income families, legislate against speculative pricing and create a land bank for the urban poor. “Protect the dream of home ownership—true welfare governance must not tax it away,” he said.