Middlemen demand fee for house regularisation in Kothagudem | Hyderabad News

Hyderabad: With the Telangana govt restarting the process of regularising houses under GO No. 76, middlemen in Kothagudem have allegedly begun approaching applicants, promising to secure title deeds for a price of up to ₹3,000 per square yard for commercial plots and ₹2,000 for residential properties. They are reportedly assuring house owners that they can get the deeds issued by influencing officials, even without waiting for the prescribed survey and verification process to be completed.The regularisation process, which had stalled before the assembly elections, has now resumed, bringing fresh hope to thousands of applicants who have been waiting for ownership documents. The govt has given the green signal to issue title deeds to 2,200 applicants who had submitted applications earlier, and a survey has begun in Kothagudem.However, the resumption of the process has also created an opportunity for middlemen to target applicants anxious to secure their property rights. According to the rates being quoted by these intermediaries, regularising a 100-square-yard commercial plot could cost an applicant around ₹3 lakh, while a residential plot of the same size could cost ₹2 lakh. The middlemen are allegedly claiming that they can ensure the work gets done by arranging matters with officials.Some local political leaders are also alleged to be attempting to use the regularisation process to recover their political expenditure. They are reportedly identifying applicants through intermediaries and negotiating how the money collected would be shared.The alleged arrangement involves dividing the applicants among different intermediaries, with each seeking to secure a share of the money paid by those hoping to obtain title deeds. The claims have raised concerns about applicants being pressured to pay for a process that is supposed to be carried out under govt rules.In one instance reported from Pragathi Nagar, a house owner who had applied for a title deed earlier was approached by a middleman after the survey resumed. The intermediary allegedly demanded ₹1 lakh, promising to deliver the registration deed directly to the applicant’s house.“The middleman assured me that the deed could be secured without depending on the survey process. However, I refused, saying the amount was beyond my means, following which the intermediary left,” said the applicant on condition of anonymity.The incident highlights how applicants waiting for official confirmation of their property rights could be vulnerable to such promises, particularly when they are uncertain about the timeline and outcome of the regularisation process.Kothagudem tahsildar Pullaiah said the distribution of title deeds would be conducted transparently and strictly in accordance with the prescribed rules.“There is no scope for middlemen to interfere in the process. People should not trust such persons or waste their money. The process will be carried out officially, following the rules, and applicants should remain alert,” he said.Officials have cautioned applicants against paying anyone who claims to have influence over the process or promises to secure title deeds outside the prescribed procedure. Applicants are advised to rely on official channels for information about the survey, verification and issuance of documents.