Emaar Representatives Meet CM Over Pending Projects

A delegation from Dubai-based real estate company Emaar Properties today met Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to discuss the long-pending disputes surrounding the company's projects in Telangana.

The meeting, held at the Secretariat, also saw the participation of Industries Minister Sridhar Babu and some senior government officials.

Emaar Founder and Managing Director Mohammed Alabbar, former UAE Ambassador to India Dr Ahmed Al Banna, Emaar Group CEO Amit Jain, and the company's International Affairs Head Mustafa Akram were among those representing the real estate giant.

The company had entered into agreements with the then Andhra Pradesh government in 2001 to invest in key infrastructure projects in Hyderabad, including a convention centre, a hotel, a golf course and residential villas. However, allegations of irregularities in its agreements with the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) led to investigations by the CBI and Enforcement Directorate.

The legal proceedings, which have been ongoing for years, have stalled the completion of these projects.

Following the formation of Telangana, the previous BRS government had constituted a five-member secretary-level committee in 2015 to resolve the disputes. The Ministry of External Affairs and the Solicitor General of India had also made recommendations to the State government regarding the matter.

Given the legal complexities, the Chief Minister directed officials to conduct a thorough review of the Emaar agreements, court cases, and the instructions provided by the Union government. He also announced the formation of a new committee comprising legal experts, in addition to the existing committee formed under the Chief Secretary in 2015, to work toward a resolution.

Reddy accepted Emaar's proposal to establish a legal agency, with the approval of the UAE government, to examine the disputes and propose solutions. The government's committee will collaborate with this agency to explore possible legal and administrative resolutions.

The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari, Advocate General Sudarshan Reddy, Special Chief Secretary (Industries) Jayesh Ranjan, Special Chief Secretary (Finance) Ramakrishna Rao, CMO Secretary Seshadri, Special Secretary to the CM Ajith Reddy, TGIIC MD Vishnuvardhan Reddy and Law Secretary Tirupati.