The Hindu Business Line : `Rajasekhara Reddy surrendered 997 acres'

The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, and his family members have surrendered 997 acres of land near Pengaluru in Kadapa district.

These lands were registered in the name of Forest Plantation Ltd. Of these, 239 acres were bought in 1991. Later, the company took possession of the remaining land.

Announcing the `largesse' of the Chief Minister, Mr Dharmana Prasada Rao, Minister for Revenue, said though the family did not violate any law, it chose to surrender the land to stand as an example for the rest and described the move as the "second generation land reforms" in the State.

Last month, the Chief Minister created a flutter by surrendering 310 acres of `assigned land' that his family owned at his native village Idupulapaya in Kadapa district.

ORDER SOON

Stating that the Government would soon come out with an order, asking people to surrender all illegal land in 90 days, the Revenue Minister said it was found that 55 lakh acres were believed to be in the hands of unauthorised people.

Of the 6.50 crore acres in the State, 3.10 crore acres were arable. This arable land was in the control of about 1.15 crore families. About 60 lakh families owned holdings less than one acre.

Stating that there were 50 lakh landless poor in the State, the Minister said 55 lakh acres were distributed to the poor since Independence. But due to loopholes in the law and indifference on the part of officials, unauthorised people have grabbed this land over a period of time.

While late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi ushered the first generation reforms in the seventies, the Dr Rajasekhara Reddy Government had decided to launch `Bhoo Yagnam' - the second-generation land reforms.

More Stories on : Politics | Real Estate & Construction | Andhra Pradesh

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