Which State Has The Most Waqf Properties & Which City Is Called The 'Waqf Capital'?
This city hosts approximately 77,000 Waqf properties, accounting for 30% of the country's total Waqf properties and have assets valued at over Rs 1 lakh crore
The Narendra Modi government has introduced and passed a bill to amend the Waqf rules in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. The Waqf, as a non-governmental organisation, holds the largest amount of land and property in India.
Among the states and cities with the most Waqf property, Hyderabad stands out. The city, often referred to as the ‘Waqf capital’ of India, hosts approximately 77,000 Waqf properties, accounting for 30% of the country’s total Waqf properties.
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Significant properties include the 400-year-old Mecca Masjid, commercial shops around Charminar generating crores of rupees in annual income, and thousands of acres of land donated by the Nizams of the Deccan region.
Wealthiest Waqf Board In India
Telangana’s Waqf Board is the richest in the country, with Telangana and Andhra Pradesh together holding 1.2 lakh Waqf properties. Notable properties in Andhra Pradesh include the historical 200-year-old Shahi Masjid in Kurnool, and cultivable lands in Kadapa and Anantapur.
The annual income of the Telangana Waqf Board is Rs 500 crore, derived from rent and donations, while 85% of Waqf lands in Andhra Pradesh are situated in rural areas.
Which State Has The Most Waqf Properties
Uttar Pradesh ranks first in terms of the number of Waqf properties, with 1.5 lakh properties, over 20% of the country’s total. However, it stands second in terms of the total property value. Notable properties include the land of Bada Imambara and mosques in Lucknow, as well as industrial land and religious sites near Kanpur, Meerut, and Moradabad.
In Karnataka, there are more than 30,000 Waqf properties located in Bengaluru, Gulbarga, and Bidar, with a 2023 report indicating that 90% of Waqf land in Bengaluru is illegally occupied. In West Bengal, significant properties include historic mosques and tombs in Kolkata and Murshidabad, as well as commercial land along the Hooghly river.
The five states with the maximum Waqf properties are Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and West Bengal. Cities with the most valuable Waqf properties include:
- Hyderabad (Telangana), with the Mecca Masjid complex valued at more than Rs 5,000 crore and shops around Charminar generating over Rs 50 crore in annual rent.
- Delhi, with Jama Masjid and surrounding land valued at over Rs 3,000 crore, including hotels and shops in the Nizamuddin Dargah area.
- Ajmer (Rajasthan), with the Ajmer Sharif Dargah receiving annual contributions of over Rs 100 crore.
- Mumbai (Maharashtra), with the Haji Ali Dargah situated on premium land near the beach.
Some Interesting Facts About Waqf Properties
The Telangana Waqf Board, the richest in the country, have assets valued at over Rs 1 lakh crore. Additionally, 40% of Waqf land in Uttar Pradesh is cultivable, providing substantial revenue to the board. The management of Waqf properties in Kerala is considered to be the most transparent, and 75% of the actual value of Waqf properties is higher than government records indicate.
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