HYDERABAD:Notwithstanding objections from students and Opposition parties, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday asserted that his government would takeover surplus land of the Osmania University to build houses for the poor and added that “universities do not need thousands of acres”.
“This is not the era of Maharajas (to give away vast tracts of land). Every inch in urban areas has to be utilised properly,” he observed.
KCR alleged that previous governments had given away hundreds of acres to race courses, golf clubs and others, but not to the poor. He visited Boudha Nagar and parts of Secunderabad on Tuesday, the fourth day of the ongoing Swachh Hyderabad campaign, and sought to turn the tables on the Opposition by claiming that they did not want the poor to prosper.
“Some people are burning my effigies after I announced the takeover of OU land. Politicians are supporting them and trying to thwart my plans to construct houses for the poor,” he said.
He went on to say universities do not need thousands of acres and recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi too had agreed with his view. “When Modi sought 500 acres for setting up an agricultural university, I said just 50 acres is enough and he too agreed,” he said.
The Chief Minister’s firm stance prompted scores of students to take out a rally on the OU campus. The students vowed to intensify their stir if KCR went ahead with his plans.
“The announcement is an attempt to garner votes in the upcoming Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections,” the student leaders alleged.
“Did people ask for land? Why did KCR promise houses to the poor on OU land? This is a gimmick to gain votes in GHMC elections,” said K Manavatha Roy, president of the Telangana Vidyarthula Nirudhyoghula JAC.
Once spread across 2,000 acres, OU now has 1,728 acres with it. The varsity authorities had constructed a perimeter wall in early 1990s to prevent encroachments.