The state government may take back land that was allotted to industries and that was not utilised for the purpose.
Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Monday announced that the state government may take back land that was allotted to industries and that was not utilised for the purpose.
The Chief Minister was speaking at the all-party meeting convened on the land allotment policy, at the state Secretariat.
He said that all the suggestions and opinions of all party leaders would be incorporated into the new land allotment policy.
He said that the next version of the draft policy will be published within 10 days, on the website of the CCLA, seeking public comments.
A public consultation will also be held in an appropriate manner, possibly at Jubilee Hall, thereafter.
Congress Ministers N Raghuveera Reddy, Botsa Satyanarayana, J Geetha Reddy, Ponnala Lakshamaiah, Vatti Vasantha Kumar, Sailajanath and senior Congress leader P Narsa Reddy attended the meeting.
From the other parties, Dadi Veerabhadra Rao and R Chandrasekhara Reddy (TDP), B V Raghavulu, P Madhu (CPM), K Narayana and P Venkat Reddy (CPI), Bandaru Dattatreya and S Malla Reddy (BJP), Dr. Shravan (TRS), Jayaprakash Narayan and Lakshman Balaji (Lok Satta) were present as well.
All the leaders hailed the Chief Minister for coming out with what they stated was a transparent and clear land allotment policy, calling it "a laudable attempt".
Chief Secretary Pankaj Dwivedi, Special Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, Secretaries, CMO officials and other officials were present at the meeting.
The CM said that the Draft Allotment Policy 2011 has been aimed at bringing transparency to the allotment of government land for various purposes, to government, semi-government and private entities.
He also assured that all land allotments of the past would be reviewed, and that the departments concerned are already looking into this.
He said that the state government would also see how the Parliament Bill on Land Acquisition would affect the state's land allotment policy.
The CM clarified that the policy is with regards to the government's land allotments to industry, IT and other purposes, and not about land acquisition.
Satellite mapping of government land is being done, he said. Also, the government will spend Rs. 20 crore for constructing compound walls to protect government lands in the city. The same will be done in Ranga Reddy District and other Municipal Corporations.
The CCLA, J Satyanarayana, in a presentation, explained that the salient features of the new policy are:
- The establishment of AP Land Management Agency under the Chairmanship of CCLA with DG, EPTRI, as Member and Principal Secretary of the concerned Department as well as subject matter experts as Special Invitees.
- The APLMA to be constituted shall appraise major projects and allot, or recommend for the allotment of, land to the government. It will also review the utilisation of land by the allottees.
- All Departments will conduct a review of the utilisation of land by the allottees, in respect of allotments made in the past, and submit the status to the APLMA for necessary action.
- Rational norms have been suggested on the extent of land that can be allotted for various purposes.
- Guidelines have been given on the fixation of market value. Land will be allotted normally on market value.
- The government shall have the powers to provide concessional rates for social-sector projects and critical and prestigious projects.
- Land will be normally allotted on long lease for 25 years. Departments of the government will come up with their policies on concessional rates, keeping in view the requirements for promoting their sector.
- A digital land bank will be established by APLMA.
- In respect of projects where the allotment is more than 100 acres, 10% of the land will be earmarked for future government needs and 10% for the green belt.
- Powers are proposed to be delegated at various levels, i. e., Collector, APLMA, Minister (Revenue), especially for allotments in favour of state and Central government departments and PSUs.
- Specific time limits have been prescribed for processing the land allotment proposals at various levels. (INN)