BJP slams land value hike, seeks immediate review

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BJP State president N. Ramchander Rao on Friday demanded that the government immediately review the steep hike in land market values, warning that it could push the already struggling real estate sector into a deeper crisis.

He alleged that the revision of land values across different jurisdictions lacked "proper planning and scientific basis", and appeared to be aimed at filling government coffers rather than benefiting farmers and rural landowners.

Pointing out that land values have been increased by 50% to 100%, and in some areas by as much as 300%, Mr. Rao said the hike would burden the common man, who would have to pay lakhs more in registration charges to purchase land or build houses.

He criticised the decision to fix the minimum price per acre at ₹2.75 lakh in rural areas, ₹5 lakh in municipalities, and ₹10 lakh under HMDA limits, calling them excessively high. Applying the revised rates to those who had already booked registration slots and paid challans at earlier rates reflected the government’s “authoritarian and stubborn attitude,” he alleged.

Mr. Rao further accused the Congress government of going back on its “six guarantees” and imposing financial strain on people through successive increases in charges in recent months. He claimed that higher electricity tariffs, RTC bus fares, municipal property taxes, and drinking water charges, along with what he termed “looting” in the name of the Layout Regularisation Scheme (LRS), amounted to cheating the public.

The BJP warned of launching a large-scale public agitation if the government failed to reconsider its decision, according to a press release.