The Andhra Pradesh Government has agreed to appoint a House committee on the various aspects of land deals and allocations made to special economic zones (SEZs) entered over the years, if the Opposition is not satisfied with the Government response and the debate.

This changed stance of the Government has broken the impasse between the Government and the Opposition parties, who have been stalling the functioning of the House demanding a House committee to probe various aspects of land deals and alleged favouritism.

Statement today

The Deputy Speaker, Mr N.Manohar, today convened a meeting of floor leaders and wanted the Government to be prepared for a statement and a debate on Saturday on the land allocations, particularly for SEZs.

The Minister for Major Industries, Ms J. Geetha Reddy, wanted the debate to be confined to SEZs and Wakf properties.

The Opposition parties, particularly the Telugu Desam, the Communist parties and the BJP, have been alleging that land allocations smacked of favouritism. They wanted the Government to appoint a House committee to probe all deals entered into the past few years and also called upon the Government to cancel allocations, if the land allottees are misusing or have yet to begin work on the project.

Legislature panel

They wanted the Government to appoint a Joint Legislature Committee to study in detail land allocations and probe whether there was favouritism to some companies at the cost of State exchequer.

On behalf of the Government, Ministers, Ms. Geetha Reddy and Mr N. Raghuveera Reddy, argued that it was not possible to discuss the issue relating to all land transactions. They wanted it to be narrowed down to SEZs and allocations to infrastructure projects. MIM also wanted a through debate on Wakf properties allotted to companies.

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