Hyderabad: The Telangana state government’s desire to have its own parade ground near Golconda is slowly gaining momentum. From Tuesday, defence personnel and Telangana revenue authorities will conduct a survey of the 104-acre area in the possession of defence authorities, which has been sought by the Telangana government.

“The survey is expected to begin on Tuesday. The  officials could not come today as they were preoccupied,” a senior revenue official told DC on Monday, adding that the government would exchange land for land with the defence ministry.

State officials have already scanned the area through satellite imagery and zeroed in on 104-acre land that is suitable.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao had written to the defence ministry seeking the land and had promised to provide equal-sized land elsewhere in exchange, which had got a positive response from the ministry. Earlier, the government had zeroed in on a 48-acre site under the control of defence authorities, but the latter wasn’t keen to part with it.

Following this, the government looked at another site in Shaikpet mandal — on TS Survey Numbers 20, 246, 251, 257 and 280 — which was also defence land. Officials obtained satellite images and the same was forwarded to the CMO for approval. Some pockets of the land are reportedly under encroachment, but a revenue official said this could be ascertained only after a detailed survey.

“Defence authorities said the land sought by government was to the extent of 104 acre. Only a survey can ascertain if there are any encroachments,” he said.

Governments in undivided Andhra Pradesh, and the current Telangana government, conducted Republic Day, Independence Day and other big official functions at the Secunderabad Parade ground, which is under the control of defence authorities.

For a change, the chief minister had hoisted the national flag at Golconda Fort last Independence Day.

Source: DC