The decision has come as a surprise to the HMDA which is facing acute shortage of funds to complete ongoing projects. Instalment payments in such a scenario will hit developmental schemes.

Speaking to Expresso, HMDA officials said that over the last year notices had been issued to owners and developers to pay the dues, totalling Rs 200 crore, but they had cited inability to do so on account of recession in the construction industry and the consequent impact on business. The realtors had been urging HMDA to extend instalment facility in respect of development charges.

Even as the authority was contemplating action against them, the developers approached the State Government requesting more time to clear the dues, and in instalments.

The entities that owe money to the HMDA include Venkataraya Builders Pvt Ltd (Rs 8.62 crore), Universal Realtors Pvt Ltd (Rs 6.19 crore), Universal Realtors (Rs 7.85 crore), S&S Constructions (Rs 7.13 crore), M/s Theme Constructions (Rs 4.84 crore), Anuradha and others (Rs 87 lakh), Sree Ram Financial Holding Pvt Ltd (Rs 2.73 crore), M/s Meenakshi Infrastructure Pvt Ltd (Rs 5.15 crore), Jaya Padmavathi and others (Rs 15.71 crore), Anil Kumar Kishen (Rs 11.04 crore), Maytas Hill County Sez Pvt Ltd ( Rs 11.58 crore), M/s Ocimum Constructions (Rs 33.22 lakh), former Test cricketer Arshad Ayub (Rs 94.36 lakh), Suhas Kirloskar (Rs 1.49 crore), Rama Raju and others (Rs 5.63 crore), Trendset Bharat Project (Rs 8.78 crore), Sandeep Mehta (Rs 2.79 crore), DV Shiva Prasad and others (Rs 27.86 lakh), CRK Infrastructure Developers Pvt Ltd (Rs 3.32 crore), M/s Garden Mutually Aided Cooperative Housing Society (Rs 3.10 crore) and Saket Engineers (Rs 86.67 lakh).