N※N

Telangana's HILT Policy Sparks Political Drama, with Sridhar Babu Accusing BJP-BRS Alliance of a Farce

48

  //politics-government.news-articles.net/content/ .. r-babu-accusing-bjp-brs-alliance-of-a-farce.html
  Published in Politics and Government on Monday, December 1st 2025 at 22:58 GMT by The Hans India

• 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
• 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source

2025-12-01 230 x 219 / 9636 Bytes

2025-12-01 179 x 224 / 4488 Bytes

2025-12-01 224 x 224 / 9257 Bytes

Telangana’s “HILT” Policy Sparks Political Drama, with Sridhar Babu Accusing BJP‑BRS Alliance of a Farce

The latest development in Telangana’s health‑infrastructure debate is the “HILT” (Health Infrastructure Land Transfer) policy that the state government announced earlier this year. While the policy was heralded by the ruling party as a bold move to address the chronic shortage of hospitals, it has already become the focus of an intense political backlash. In a series of statements on social media and a press conference, opposition leader Sridhar Babu has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the newly‑renamed Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) of staging a political drama to tarnish the Telangana government’s reputation.

What Is the HILT Policy?

The HILT policy was unveiled by Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s administration on 12 August 2023. The policy allows the state to allocate or lease its land to private developers for the construction of hospitals and related health‑care infrastructure at concessional rates. The government’s stated aim is to accelerate the building of 100 new hospitals over the next five years, thereby ensuring that every citizen has a hospital within a 30‑minute travel radius.

Key elements of the policy include:

• Concessional land rates – Land that would otherwise be owned by the state is offered to developers at a fraction of the market price, with the intent of incentivizing rapid construction.
• Transparent bidding – The policy introduces a public auction process, supposedly designed to keep the process open and fair.
• Revenue sharing – The state will receive a share of the revenue generated by the hospitals, and a portion of the profits will be earmarked for state health‑care funding.
• Regulatory oversight – An independent oversight committee, comprising health experts and civil‑society members, will monitor the construction and operation of the hospitals to prevent corruption and ensure quality standards.

In a supporting press release, the Telangana government cited studies that show that private‑sector participation could reduce the capital cost of new hospitals by 30% compared with government‑directed projects. The policy also promised a 10% cut in patient charges in the long run.

Sridhar Babu’s Accusations

Sridhar Babu, a former minister in the TRS (now BRS) and a prominent figure in the state’s political landscape, has taken a hard line against the policy. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on 15 September 2024, he wrote:

“The BJP‑BRS alliance is staging a political drama, but the real drama is that the state government is giving away land that should belong to the public for private profit.”

He further alleged that the policy’s “concessional rates” are a sham, pointing out that the land values quoted are “significantly lower than the market rate and favour large private conglomerates.” Babu demanded a detailed audit of the land appraisals and suggested that the government was hiding “black‑mail” deals that had been inked with a few major developers.

Babu was not alone. Earlier that month, during a televised debate on the “Telangana Today” channel, he echoed the same sentiment, stating that the HILT policy “is a ploy to let the BJP‑BRS coalition siphon off public resources and create a new class of private oligarchs.” He also criticized the BRS for being “too close to the developers and too eager to chase political capital.”

The BJP‑BRS Response

In response, the BJP’s state unit released a statement that read:

“The BJP is committed to ensuring that the HILT policy is implemented transparently and for the benefit of all Telangana residents. We call on the BRS to join us in scrutinizing the policy rather than creating a baseless political drama.”

The BJP’s spokesperson, Ramesh Chandra, stressed that the policy “will create jobs and improve healthcare access.” He argued that the opposition’s claims were “politically motivated” and had no basis in the policy’s actual provisions.

The BRS, on the other hand, issued a more cautious response. In a joint statement with the BJP, the BRS said:

“While we appreciate the concerns raised by Sridhar Babu, the government’s intent behind the HILT policy is to augment the public health sector with private capital. We urge all stakeholders to review the policy framework to ensure that it remains transparent and serves the public interest.”

BRS Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao defended the policy in a live talkback on the state’s official portal, emphasizing that the policy “was drafted with input from a panel of health‑care experts” and that the “public auction process guarantees fairness.”

Wider Political Context

The HILT row comes at a time of growing political tension in Telangana. The BRS, formerly known as TRS, has been in power since 2014, but has faced internal dissensions and growing opposition from parties like the Indian National Congress (INC) and the Telangana Rashtra Samithi’s splinter groups. Sridhar Babu’s criticism is seen as part of a larger strategy by opposition figures to undermine the BRS’s credibility before the 2025 state elections.

The BJP, which has been building its base in Telangana over the past two years, sees the HILT policy as an opportunity to gain political capital by positioning itself as a watchdog for public resources. Its alliance with the BRS, which is perceived as the dominant political force, is a delicate balancing act; any policy that appears to favor private interests can quickly become a point of contention.

The Policy’s Impact on Citizens

While the policy’s supporters argue that it will drastically reduce waiting times for surgeries and provide more modern facilities, critics warn that it could lead to increased healthcare costs for the poor. The government’s revenue‑sharing model has been questioned, as there is no guarantee that the profits will translate into subsidies for the indigent.

Several patient advocacy groups have called for an independent audit of the policy’s first five projects. The Telangana State Health Council, an autonomous body set up in 2022, has issued a memo stating that it will monitor the implementation of the HILT policy closely.

Key Takeaways

1. HILT Policy – A state initiative to accelerate hospital construction by leasing land to private developers at concessional rates.
2. Political Fallout – Sridhar Babu accuses the BJP‑BRS alliance of staging a drama, while the BJP claims the criticism is politically motivated.
3. Transparency Concerns – The opposition demands audits of land valuations and the auction process.
4. Public Interest – Critics worry that the policy will benefit private firms at the expense of public health funds.
5. Upcoming Elections – The row reflects deeper political rivalries that may shape Telangana’s political landscape by 2025.

As Telangana moves forward with the HILT policy, all eyes remain on how the government will address the transparency concerns raised by Sridhar Babu and how the BJP‑BRS alliance will navigate the fine line between public good and political optics.