Government to Process 20 Lakh Pending LRS Applications in Telangana
Hyderabad: The Telangana government is set to process nearly 20 lakh pending applications under the 2020 Layout Regularisation Scheme (LRS). However, applicants must complete all necessary formalities and fee payments for their applications to be considered. Officials expect that at least five lakh people will take advantage of the 25% rebate on LRS fees and pro-rata open space charges if they make payments before March 31.
Verification and Scrutiny Process
Out of the 25 lakh applications received, around 2.5 lakh were rejected because the plots were located on prohibited lands. Additionally, plots situated within 200 meters of water bodies require further inspection by the Revenue and Irrigation Departments before approval.
For eligible applications, officials found that around five to six lakh cases had market value discrepancies between what applicants reported and the official government registration values. These cases have been sent to the Registration & Stamps Department for verification.
So far, officials have issued fee payment letters to 14.9 lakh applicants whose applications are in order. The remaining cases, including those near water bodies and those under verification, are expected to receive their fee letters within 10 days.
Government Push for March 31 Deadline
A recent government order offers a 25% rebate on LRS fees for applicants who make their payments before March 31. However, those who choose to pay open space charges later, at the time of construction, will not be eligible for the discount.
The order also restricts the registration of plots and denies building permissions for plots in unauthorized layouts unless they are regularized under LRS. While awareness efforts are minimal in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA), district Collectors are actively spreading awareness.
Awareness Campaigns and Technical Fixes
To encourage applicants, district Collectors are holding meetings with citizens and developers, and information boards have been placed at layout sites. These efforts aim to ensure that more applicants complete payments before the deadline.
Earlier, applicants faced technical issues while accessing the LRS online portal. However, officials have now resolved these problems, making the process smoother.
With strong support from the government and district administrations, officials are hopeful that a significant number of pending LRS applications will be cleared soon, providing relief to applicants and improving land regularization across Telangana.
