Koheda fruit market land worth ₹3,000 crore being diverted: Harish Rao

BRS Deputy Floor Leader T. Harish Rao accused the Congress government of attempting to divert nearly 200 acres of land earmarked for the proposed Koheda Fruit Market to private interests, alleging that land worth close to ₹3,000 crore was being targeted at the cost of thousands of farmers.

Mr. Rao said, “This is not a party issue; this is a farmers’ issue,” and appealed to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and the Agriculture Minister to safeguard the interests of lakhs of farmers.

He said that when he was Marketing Minister, land acquisition was completed and ₹10 crore was paid as compensation to farmers. The project was formally notified through and ₹350 crore was deposited in a bank account under GO 216 for construction.

A Detailed Project Report (DPR) worth ₹1,000 crore was also prepared, envisaging not only a fruit market but integrated flower and fish markets to cater to needs for the next 100 years. “Land, funds and planning are all ready. Instead of starting construction, the Congress government is trying to sell this land,” he alleged.

Mr. Rao claimed that the land, valued at nearly ₹3,000 crore, was sought to be transferred to the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC) and eventually handed over to ‘close associates’ of the ruling dispensation.

He objected to the reported proposal to shift the market to alternative ‘DIL lands’, stating that the parcels are under legal dispute, with restrictions imposed by the High Court and involvement of the Andhra Pradesh government.