The Hindu Business Line : AP cabinet approves land allocation for cement firm

Hyderabad March 29 The State Cabinet on Thursday approved the allotment of 487 acres of land in Kadapa district to Raghuram Cement Company Ltd in which

Mr Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, son of the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, is one of the director.

The land is to be offered for Rs 1 lakh per acre as against the current market price of Rs 15,000 to Rs 18,000 per acre. However, the District Collector had recommended Rs 50,000 per acre and the Chief Commissioner, Land Administration, had fixed the price at Rs 1 lakh per acre.

According to sources, during the Cabinet meeting when the discussion on the issue had come up for consideration, the Chief Minister opted out of the Cabinet meeting. In his absence, ministers unanimously allotted the land for the cement unit but also expressed why should the Chief Minister's son be forced to pay more just because of his current status.

RURAL ISSUES

According to a statement from the Chief Minister's Office, the Chairman of the Rural Support Programmes Network (RSPN), Pakistan, Mr Shoaib Sultan Khan, and a delegation of rural development functionaries called on the Chief Minister to discuss issues relating to rural development.

The Chief Minister conveyed to the visiting delegation about efforts of the State Government in giving loans at subsidised rates and other rural development programmes including free power supply to farmers.

The State fulfilled election promises and bank loans were extended to women self-help groups (SHGs) at three per cent interest per annum by providing six per cent subsidy from the State Government.

The bank loans for these SHGs had grown from Rs 700 crore in 2003 to Rs 1,100 crore in 2004 and Rs 2,100 crore in 2005, Rs 3,500 crore in 2006 and now projected to cross Rs 5,000 crore in 2007, the statement said.

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