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CM Halts Land Acquisition
Posted by Pradeep Sadanapalli | August 22, 2008 | 557 views
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Loading ...The Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, on Tuesday directed officials not to acquire land for infrastructure projects unless there was dire need to do so.
The Chief Minister instructed the East Godavari and Visakhapatnam district collectors to immediately withdraw prohibitory orders imposed on land transactions in several mandals falling in the proposed Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemical Investment Region (PCPIR).
He said there was no need to issue such orders when the government was not acquiring land for the PCPIR.
Dr Reddy is also believed to have asked officials to put on hold land acquisition for the Visakhapatnam international airport till defence authorities cleared the project. With regard to minor airports in the districts, he said a firm no to land acquisition at this stage.
The Chief Minister appeared to have decided not to risk poll prospects by aggressively acquiring land, which has become a contentious issue. He also wanted all infrastructure projects to be grounded immediately so as to gain electoral mileage out of creating employment opportunities on a large scale.
In an unusual manner, the Chief Minister held a marathon district-wise review meeting on infrastructure projects being implemented or proposed. Senior officials, collectors of about 12 districts and the private developers of projects besides Mr K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao, former adviser (political) and the Chief Minister’s confidant, took part in the review.
Sources said the Chief Minister wanted the officials to follow up with Central authorities on a dayto-day basis and obtain necessary permissions instead of drafting letters seeking permission.
He said the Gangavaram port should be put into operation by September at any cost while the Vadarevu Nizampatnam Port Industrial Corridor and Machilipatnam port should be grounded immediately.
With regard to Anantapur district, however, the Chief Minister asked the AP Industrial Infrastructure Corporation to continue with land acquisition in view of demand from locals and people’s representatives.
The government had a bitter experience there with Jurong backing out from the 60,000-acre Odyssey Science City and farmers are pressuring the government to complete the acquisition process.
SOURCES:
Deccan Chronicle
Topics: Public Concerns, Property Matters, Govt In Action |
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