Khammam Demolition Drive: approximately 300 houses Gone
On Tuesday morning, district officials in Khammam carried out a major demolition drive in the Velugumatla area on the city’s outskirts. Using JCBs, authorities demolished approximately 300 houses built on Bhoodan lands located in survey numbers 147, 148, and 149. The operation began as early as 6:00 AM, with a joint team of Revenue, Municipal, and Police officials arriving at the site. To prevent any unrest, a massive security force consisting of thousands of police personnel from Khammam, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Mahabubabad, and Suryapet districts was deployed.
The situation was tense as builders and locals tried to stop the demolitions, but officials proceeded with the operation. Access to the area was strictly restricted, and even the media was not allowed near the site. Several political leaders, including BRS MLC Tata Madhusudhan and representatives from the CPM, Y. Vikram, Yerra Srinivasa Rao, were arrested by the police when they attempted to reach the spot to protest the move.
The massive demolition drive in Velugumatla, is the result of a legal and administrative struggle spanning over seven years. In 1953, during the peak of the Bhoodan Movement, a donor named Kalavala Raja Rama Rao donated 31 acres and 7 guntas of land in Survey Numbers 147, 148, and 149 to the Bhoodan Yagna Board. While this land was originally intended to help the landless poor, it eventually became a site for unauthorized constructions and complex legal battles.
Additional Collector Explains Legal Basis for the Demolition Drive
Khammam Additional Collector P. Srinivasa Reddy addressed the media to explain the legal history behind the recent action. He noted that the first major administrative intervention occurred in 2019, when the Khammam Urban Tehsildar noticed widespread encroachments and issued eviction notices. However, the residents challenged these orders in the High Court. The Court eventually stayed the Tehsildar’s orders, ruling that the Tehsildar did not have the proper legal authority (jurisdiction) over Bhoodan lands. Importantly, the Court also ordered that the “nature of the land” should not be changed, meaning no new permanent structures were allowed to be built.
In 2023, a group of residents, including Korlapati Parameswari and nine others, approached the High Court again to stop the government from removing their houses. During these proceedings, the High Court observed that the “pattas” (land titles) shown by the residents were not clear or valid. While the court granted a “status quo” (an order to keep things as they are) for the specific petitioners’ houses, it allowed the Telangana Bhoodan Yagna Board to conduct a full inquiry into the land records.
The final chapter of this dispute unfolded on January 17, 2026. Following a detailed verification of records, the Bhoodan Yagna Board officially confirmed that no allotments had ever been made to the 308 occupants. The only valid records found were for 10 acres reserved for a KGBV (Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya) and a Model School. Consequently, the Board ordered the District Collector to reclaim the land. This led to the massive operation on Tuesday morning, where officials demolished the structures while carefully excluding only those specifically protected by previous High Court interim orders.
Deputy Editor, Prime Post
Anand Gantela is a seasoned media professional with nearly three decades of experience across the spectrum of Indian journalism. Having worked extensively in both print and broadcast media, he has held key positions at renowned outlets such as Prajashakthi, Andhra Bhoomi, Mudra, Media India, Siti Cable, Mana Telugu, and Maa TV. From ground-level reporting to managing news bureaus and overseeing bulletin production, Anand has witnessed the evolution of news firsthand. His wealth of experience reflects a deep understanding of the dynamic and ever- evolving landscape of news reporting.
