Tenders yet to be called for Waqf lands in State

Year-long delay attributed to staff crunch, lack of expertise

The Telangana State Waqf Board.

It has been nearly a year since the Telangana government had issued an order giving the go-ahead to lease 11 properties endowed to Waqf institutions on a 30-year lease.

The intention was to boost the board’s revenue. But several months after the State’s first elected State Waqf Board was constituted, no steps have been taken to call for tenders.

GO-recommended land

It was last February that a GO identified land parcels in prime locations for development and revenue generation.

The list included around 100 acres in Mamidipally, which is endowed to Dargah Hazrat Baba Sharfuddin, approximately 6,000 square yards of which is endowed to Dargah Hazrat Barhane Shah near Santosh Nagar, and among others, a 1.2 acre land parcel in Hitex.

Host of issues

Attributing the delay to various problems that have beset the board, a senior official who did not wish to be identified said, “One of the most important issues that we have faced is the sealing off of the records section. Before this, there was the transfer of the then chief executive officer Mohammed Asadullah. There is also the problem of staff crunch and lack of expertise.”

Sources say that the board is also grappling with court cases. These include the Muslim endowment panel’s attempts to get the Dargah Hazrat Yusufain in its direct management. Officials said that the case is coming up for hearing shortly.

When contacted, Telangana State Waqf Board chairman Mohammed Saleem said, “It is true that the issue is pending. The issue is that we need funds. We will bring it to the Chief Minister’s attention.”

On the other hand, Waqf protection activists like Ather Moin said that the board, which is an autonomous body, should call for tenders immediately.

“The GO was issued at a time when it was being administered by a competent authority. Now that the elected persons are running it, there is no reason why developing Waqf properties for income generation should be stalled further. But it is a known fact that the board has become lethargic,” he said.