The Hindu Business Line : AP to distribute 1 lakh acres of land on July 30

THE State Government will distribute 1.10 lakh acres to the beneficiaries from the weaker sections on July 30 in the second phase of the land distribution scheme.

The Government has allocated Rs 300 crore under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) to develop the land. The amount is in addition to the Rs 500-crore fund allocated for similar purpose for 1.55 lakh acres distributed in the first phase last year.

Speaking newspersons to on Thursday, Mr D. Prasada Rao, Minister for Revenue, said that the Joint Collectors of respective districts had been asked to identify land and facilitate the process to meet the July 30 deadline.

Beneficiaries in Visakhapatnam, Adilabad, and Medak districts got a maximum allocation of 10,000 acres each. Mahaboobnagar, Nellore, West Godavari, Vizianagaram, and Srikakulam got 6,000 acres each for distribution in the second phase.

Soon after completing the second phase, the Joint Collectors had been directed to settle forest settlement issues. These disputes that had locked up over two lakh hectares of land were the reason for unrest in the tribal areas.

Mr Prasada Rao said that the Government had taken up the task of strengthening the revenue system, which had become very weak and ineffective in the last two decades. The two-day workshop had been asked to suggest measures to improve the system.

The Cabinet Sub-Committee set up for the purpose would consider these suggestions."The idea is to make the system future-proof, taking care of emerging needs of revenue users. An effective revenue system is essential to make developmental programmes meant for target groups successful."

With regard to acquiring land for the proposed irrigation projects, the Government had agreed to let land acquisition units outsource staff. "It takes time to appoint people necessary to carry on the acquisition job. Hence, the Government has decided to allow the units to outsource staff."

Six more units would come up, taking the number to 50. Five Special Collectors would be appointed.

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