People who own plots within the FTL will be compensated with 200% of built up space equivalent the area surrendered, and lands falling within buffer area will get 300% of the same. The Telangana government has issued orders on Friday making amendments to the transferable development rights (TDR) policy in order to make the lake and water body conservation robust.

A senior official said that the aim is to encourage plot owners to seek TDRs. These rights may be used or exchanged with builders/ owners, towards concessions in the form of additional floors or relaxations in setback spaces.

Under the existing building rules, plots in the FTL or buffer areas are offered a uniform rate of 200%, which has failed to attract many owners. The amended rules are applicable to FTL and buffer zones of lakes, Maximum Flood Level of rivers, and also widening of the storm water drains in the CURE (Core Urban Region) defined as the area within the Outer Ring Road, the orders said.

Land that lies outside the buffer zone but is needed for public purposes related to the conservation or development of water bodies will be compensated with Transferable Development Rights (TDR). Landowners will receive TDR equivalent to 400 per cent of the built-up area of the land they surrender.

If private land is taken for nala (drain) development, the same 400 per cent TDR benefit will apply, similar to road-widening projects. However, this will be given only if the land is not already recorded as part of an existing nala in revenue records.

To make TDR more attractive to landowners, the government has decided that in high-rise buildings with more than 10 floors, at least 10 per cent of the built-up area above the 10th floor must use TDR.

If a landowner surrenders only part of their land falling under MFL/FTL/buffer or nala-widening areas free of cost, they may opt for relaxation in setback rules or permission for an additional floor in the remaining land. Such relaxations cannot exceed the TDR eligible for the surrendered land. Setback relaxation will be proportionate to the road width.

If the landowner is unavailable or if there is a title dispute, the eligible TDR will be recorded in a TDR bank along with land details and kept with the sanctioning authority.