The Telangana State Wakf Board (SWB) has written to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), claiming that the latter owes it a staggering sum of Rs 350 crore.
The letter was sent by board chief executive officer Mohammed Asadullah to the GHMC commissioner, claims that 44 properties were acquired by the municipality for road widening and the metro, which have not been compensated for.
Quoting a source, the Times of India says "Over a period of 10 or 15 years the GHMC has acquired these properties but so far we have not received compensation for many. We have demanded that we be compensated as soon as possible as the amount is not small. We have provided a list of properties to the GHMC."
When contacted, competent authority Syed Omer Jaleel told TOI "I am aware of the letter.These are inter-departmental issues which every department and agency has. It is important to have discussions first. The final compensation amount will be decided after the meeting with the commissioner."
The Wakf board and the GHMC have been sparring ever since the 'Wakf mall' being constructed by it adjacent to the Haj House in Nampally ran into rough weather in 2012.
The board is unhappy with the municipality for not having waived off the building's permission fee and the complex has been a victim of official apathy for quite some time.
As of January this year, as many as 50 complaints have been registered at various police stations against encroachers and violators of the 'mansha-e-wakf' (purpose of endowment) of its properties.