Former Governor Bandaru Dattatreya called for a major revision of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) Master Plan, alleging that current zoning policies adversely affect small and marginal farmers.

Addressing a discussion forum at the Hyderabad Press Club, Dattatreya highlighted that 50,000 farmers are unable to build homes on their land due to restrictive zones such as Conservation, which prohibit construction. Meanwhile, lands held by wealthy developers fall under Residential or Multiple-use zones, allowing multi-story construction.

He criticized the 2013 master plan, noting that despite planned development intentions, the zoning framework has become a burden for farmers, especially after the merger of 20 municipalities and seven municipal corporations into the GHMC. He urged the government to revise the plan to benefit farmers and consider their livelihoods in decisions such as the proposed 100-foot-wide grid road in the growth corridor.

Participants in the forum included Lok Satta President Jayaprakash Narayan, MP Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, former MP Boora Narsaiah Goud, Padma Shri awardee Chintala Venkat Reddy, and several farmers, who supported Dattatreya’s call for equitable urban development.

Dattatreya warned that continued neglect of farmers’ interests would widen the gap between the wealthy and the poor, urging the state government to adopt a more inclusive and fair zoning policy.