HYDERABAD: Alleging that around 2,000 acres of land that was allocated to ex-servicemen at Jawahar Nagar in the city has been grabbed by private persons and political leaders, the Telangana Ex-Servicemen Association has decided to take to the city streets demanding allocation of housing plots.
Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare of India Against Corruption movement has consented to lead the protest, said president A Rangaiah Goud of the association. We would meet Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao to submit a representation seeking his direction to distribute the land to ex-servicemen, he added.
“The British had purchased 5,977 acres of land from farmers at Jawahar Nagar and used the place for anti-tank firing range. Before leaving the country, they handed it over to the Military Estate Office of Secunderabad stating that the land must be allocated to ex-servicemen,” Goud said.
“After retirement, we want to protect the remaining land belonging to the ex-servicemen. We demand the governments to distribute at least 250 square yards plots to us. Around 50,000 ex-servicemen are living in the city without proper facilities,” KM Padmanabhan (retired Naik) said.
Dr G Shanker, retired as Sergeant from Indian Air Force, said that they met Anna Hazare and sought his solidarity for the protests. “Initially, we requested the government to allot land for constructing houses. If it fails, around 20,000 ex-servicemen and their family members will lay siege to Chief Minister’s camp office. We tried to get an appointment with the CM but failed,” Shanker alleged.