Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy during the assembly session on Wednesday
Speaking on the 22-A land issue in the assembly, the CM explained the status of lands after the govt took them over from the Nizams following the merger of Hyderabad with the Indian Union. “The majority of the Nizam’s revenue came from taxes collected on 60% of the land in the erstwhile Hyderabad state, where people were allowed to do farming and pay taxes. Revanth also alleged that BRS leaders approached revenue minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy seeking clearance or registration of their own prohibited patta lands under Section 22-A.
As a result, the names of tenant farmers, sharecroppers, and vulnerable communities, especially SCs, STs, and landless BCs were completely wiped out from officially digitised records.
This substantial tax income formed the backbone of the state’s treasury and enabled large-scale public and capital investments,” Revanth said. Revanth said these institutions represented the Nizam’s vision for education, healthcare, agriculture, and governance infrastructure. He highlighted how the Nizam effectively governed a vast region and contributed significantly to its development. These included the Nizam Sagar Project, Nizam Sugar Factory, Nizam College, Osmania University, the legislative council building, the high court, City College, and Osmania General Hospital. Many of these establishments remain functional and continue to be integral to Telangana’s educational and administrative framework, serving thousands of people. Revanth accused the Dharani system of stripping these rights away from thousands of poor, landless farmers who depended entirely on cultivating landlords’ lands for their livelihood. When he rejected their requests, they started raising a hue and cry over the prohibited list.
He emphasised that, historically, these recorded occupants were granted land-use rights. Hyderabad: Chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Wednesday termed the Nizams among the best rulers in history, praising their administrative capabilities, particularly on the revenue front. These funds were not merely accumulated but were strategically utilised for building institutions and infrastructure that continue to serve Telangana even today, he said, listing several landmark institutions and projects established during the Nizam’s rule.