NALA Conversion
7 min read
You found the plot. Price is right. Location is perfect. You're already planning the floor layout in your head. One question before you go any further: does that land have NALA conversion? Because without it, everything you build on that plot regardless of how much you spend is an illegal construction in the government's eyes. Not a technicality. Not something you fix later with a fine. Illegal.
What is Land Conversion?
Every piece of land in Telangana carries a default classification. Most land, especially on the city's periphery, is classified as Agricultural. That classification isn't just a label it legally defines what you can and cannot do with that land.
To build a house, a warehouse, a commercial space, or develop a residential venture on agricultural land, you need permission from the Revenue Department to change that classification to Non-Agricultural. That permission, once granted, is called a NALA Conversion Certificate (Non-Agricultural Land Assessment).
Registration can happen without NALA. That's the trap. Registration only transfers ownership it says nothing about what you're legally allowed to do with what you just bought.
What You Lose Without NALA Conversion
No Building Permission - Panchayat and Municipal authorities will not issue building permits on unconverted agricultural land. No permit means no legal construction.
No Utility Connections - Applying for a water connection or electricity meter on an unconverted plot runs into bureaucratic walls. Approvals get stuck or rejected.
No Clear Resale - Buyers doing proper due diligence will walk away from unconverted land or demand a significant price reduction. Your exit options narrow considerably.
Converted land commands a meaningfully higher market value - because it's officially buildable, bankable, and legally usable.
The NALA Conversion Process
Conversion is applied for at the Revenue Division Office (RDO) or District Collector's Office depending on the land area. Here's the step by step:
Step 1: Gather Your Documents
Latest Pahani (ROR-1B) for the survey number
Pattadar Passbook copy
Registered Sale Deed
Aadhaar and address proof of applicant
Site plan / sketch of the land
Encumbrance Certificate (minimum 12 years)
Latest land revenue receipt (if applicable)
Step 2: Submit Application
Applications are submitted online through meeseva.telangana.gov.in or at the nearest Meeseva center
Select "NALA - Non Agricultural Land Assessment" under Revenue Services
Upload all documents and submit
You'll receive an Application Reference Number for tracking
Step 3: Field Inspection
After submission, the Mandal Revenue Officer (MRO) conducts a physical inspection of the land
They verify land use, boundaries, and whether any encroachments or disputes exist
This typically happens within 2 to 4 weeks of application
Step 4: RDO Approval
The MRO report goes to the Revenue Divisional Officer
RDO reviews and issues the NALA Conversion Order if everything is clean
Total processing time officially: 30 to 45 days. Practically: factor in 60 to 90 days
Step 5: Certificate Issuance
Once approved, the NALA Conversion Certificate is issued
This certificate needs to be referenced in all future building permission applications
NALA Conversion Fees
Fees are calculated based on land area and location classification. Current structure in Telangana:
Gram Panchayat area: ₹10,000 to ₹25,000 per acre approximately depending on mandal
Municipality / Town Panchayat area: ₹25,000 to ₹75,000 per acre approximately
Municipal Corporation limits: ₹75,000 and above per acre
These are base conversion charges. Additional betterment charges may apply depending on the local body. Verify exact figures at your RDO office or Meeseva center since rates are periodically revised.
How to Verify if a Survey Number is Already NALA Converted
Before buying, always check conversion status yourself. Don't take the seller's word for it.
Online Verification:
Go to dharani.telangana.gov.in
Click "Land Details Search" under Citizen Services
Enter District → Mandal → Village → Survey Number
Check the "Land Use" or "Nature of Land" field in the results
If it shows "Non-Agricultural" or references a NALA order number converted
If it shows "Agricultural" not converted, regardless of what anyone tells you
Offline Verification:
Visit the Mandal Revenue Office with the survey number
Ask for the current Pahani - the Nature of Land column will show classification
Ask specifically whether a NALA order exists for that survey number and request the order number for cross-reference
If the land is converted, ask the seller for the physical NALA Conversion Certificate and verify the order number matches what's in the Revenue records.
Agricultural land is cheaper. That price difference exists for a reason it comes with legal restrictions that don't disappear after registration.
If your plan is to build, develop, or simply hold land that you can sell cleanly later, NALA conversion isn't optional. It's the document that turns agricultural land into something you can actually use.
Check conversion status before you buy. If it's not converted, either factor the conversion cost and timeline into your decision or walk away and find a plot that's already been done.
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