Farmlands will be acquired as a last resort for SEZs

Visakhapatnam, January 6, 2007

CM directs VUDA and APHB to build houses for middle class

The Chief Minister, Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy at a press conference on Saturday charged the opposition charges that the agricultural lands are being acquired for setting up in SEZs in the district suggested to the landowners to not sell their holdings under pressure to any person including the leader of any political party irrespective of his/her clout. He said that the Government was avoiding purchase of agriculture lands for SEZs to the extent possible and paying fair compensation if the government has no alternative except to acquire farmlands.

He said that projects like SEZs were essential for the development and it was not fair on the part of the left parties to oppose SEZs in the State. The Chief Minister said that the orders were issued to VUDA and AP Housing Board to build houses costing between Rs. 4 to Rs. 7 lakh for middle class under Rajiv Gruhakalpa Scheme. Speaking on the issue of scholarships, he added that the Government decided to pay scholarships to the disable persons and minorities at par with the BCs are getting. He said that the Government had sanctioned a Government Degree College for Chintapalle and the proposal for another one at Araku is under consideration.

Leaders of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) walked out of the Chief Minister’s review meeting held at the Collectorate on Saturday morning alleging that the Chief Minister did not allow them to voice their concern over people’s problems. Ayyannapatrudu, speaking to media commented that it is a black day in political history alleging that that his right to speak for the people was deprived of by the Chief Minister. Earlier, police were left with no alternative except to arrest number of Left parties’ leaders, supporters, and people who tried to meet the Chief Minister to submit a memorandum seeking allotment of house sites and conditional release of those arrested in the ongoing agitation.