Govt helping realtors in guise of Capital City

VIJAYAWADA: The state government's move to acquire land for the capital city through the 'land pooling' system in Krishna and Guntur districts is attracting much criticism from various quarters.

It looks like the issue may snowball into a major controversy if the government fails to convince the farmers by making certain changes in the present proposal of the land pooling.

While a section of farmers, who own lands in Guntur district especially in Tadikonda and Mangalagiri Assembly constituencies, have made it clear that the proposal of handing over 40 per cent of their land after development is not at all acceptable, leaders like former MP Yalamachili Sivaji allege that the government was making unnecessary statements over land acquisition.

Speaking at a round table on 'Land Acquisition Act and AP Land Draft Rules' here, Sivaji, who is the native of Guntur district, alleged that the state government was backing realtors in the name of capital construction.

He wondered why the state government was trying to acquire private land for capital construction as about 23,000 acres of government land was available in the Vijayawada-Guntur-Amaravati region. He suggested to the government to acquire private lands only after acquiring the government land.

It may be recalled here that CPI national executive member K Narayana, who was here, also asked the TDP government as to why it needs lakhs of acres of land for constructing capital city and opined that farmers should not be forced to part with their lands for capital.

Former PCC chief Botcha Satyanarayana recently alleged that the government was indulging in real estate business in the name of land acquisition for the capital city.

However, minister for health Kamineni Srinivas, who participated in the launch of 'NTR Sujala Sravanthi' in the city Monday, clarified that the farmers need not worry about the land acquisition for the capital as the government would not acquire more land than required.

City police commissioner warns realtors

Vijayawada commissioner of police AB Venkateswara Rao issued a stern warning against those involved in illegal real estate transactions. The people, who were involved in illegal activities in the wake of real estate boom in and around Vijayawada following the government's decision to set up the capital in the region, will face severe action from the police.

'Real estate dealers, brokers and other mischievous elements resorting to acts like preparing fake GPAs and documents, resorting to land-grabbing, involving in suspicious transactions and doing transactions with mala fide intentions should know that they cannot escape police action.

There are many provisions to book criminal cases against those involved in illegal real estate transactions,' the CP added. CP also warned government employees involved in part-time real estate transactions.