Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad   

'Move' to allot 'open land' to Cong. MLA opposed

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD Nov.19. Corporators belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party raising the issue of allocation of "open land" to a Congress MLA demanded that the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad take up the issue with the Advocate-General for a legal opinion as they felt that the Government Order on the subject went against the Supreme Court judgment.

When the general body meeting was discussing the listed agenda on Wednesday and the MIM floor leader, Mohd. Nazeeruddin, suggested a whole-hog approval of the items, BJP members led by theirs floor leader, B. Shyamsundar Goud, wanted the Corporation to look into the case afresh.

Their contention was that the "open land" of 833 sq.mts being sought to be given to the Congress MLA, J.C. Diwakar Reddy, at Venkateswara Cooperative Housing Society in Jubilee Hills was allocated for a park. The MLA was said to have demanded suitable land in the same area where the MCH took a portion of his plot for road widening in the area.

Mr. Goud said that as per the Supreme Court guidelines, land delineated for a park or playground, could not be converted for any other purpose. "Can we or any other body afford to go against the Apex Court," he wondered. The BJP corporator, B. Jayaram Reddy, stood up to say that he opposed the clearance even at the standing committee meeting though it was passed. Mr. Nazeeruddin sought to brush aside the objections, stating that a GO was issued and Assembly floor leaders of various parties had cleared it. This, however, did not cut ice with the BJP members. They wanted to know if the MCH would provide similar "land to land" deals for the people affected by road widening as well.

Mrs. Ramachandran clarified that land-to-land compensation was difficult to be followed in all cases and it was not the MCH policy. "We have been getting excellent cooperation during road widening and most of the properties acquired were voluntary. Wherever there were litigations we have been applying the Land Acquisition Act," she said. The Mayor agreed to refer the matter to the Advocate-General.

Special Committees

The last item on appointing special committees consisting of corporators generated debate with Mr. Krishna Reddy stating that he would go "as per the bylaws". On persistent demands, he agreed and said these panels comprising a chairman and three or more members each would function independent of the standing committee. The MCH Commissioner, welcoming the move, urged the members to study the bylaws in detail. "You can discuss any issue and recommend to the Corporation appropriate action," she said, even as the members flashed big smiles.

Earlier, the council condoled the death of Majlis MLA Syed Sajjad and former Mayor Prakash Rao. The newly-elected Shantinagar corporator, Y. Vijayalakshmi, was sworn in by the Mayor.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• MCH submits proposals for ODA funds
• `Cinema a better medium than books '
• Film-maker: Norwegian kids lead comfortable lives
• New land acquisition policy to benefit weaker sections
• Case against son: CI assures cooperation
• Plea to stop use of cell-phone while driving
• 'Move' to allot 'open land' to Cong. MLA opposed

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu