The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : CM to review land alienations in and around Hyderabad

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 16, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

CM to review land alienations in and around Hyderabad

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, MAY 15. The Chief Minister, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, today announced that he would review all alienations of land done by the previous Government in and around Hyderabad in favour of private individuals, big business houses and MNCs and scrap them if found irregular.

Dr Reddy walked into the Secretariat as the 14th Chief Minister around 10.30 a.m. to a tumultuous red-carpet welcome accorded by about 20 service organisations representing 6,000- odd Secretariat employees and NGOs all over the State. NGO leaders received him at the main gate facing Hussain Sagar, an entry avoided by his predecessor reportedly for "vaastu" and security reasons in preference to the one on the south.

The Chief Secretary, Mohan Kanda, and the political secretary, Rajeswar Tiwari, greeted him at the "C" block while employees greeted him standing in rows on either end of the carpet, some of them shouting slogans.

At a meeting organised in front of the "C" block, the Chief Minister greeted the gathering with folded hands and sought their cooperation to mitigate the hardship of the common man. Dr. Reddy said, "Andhra Pradesh does not mean Hyderabad alone and it comprises the area from Srikakulam to Chittoor and Adilabad to Anantapur." It was "painful" that different sections such as Dalits, backward classes, women, minorities and the poor in general were suffering with myriad problems while the previous Government gave "cosmetic touches" to Hyderabad.

Referring to the demand made by the AP Secretariat Employees' Coordination Committee for allotment of land for housing, he said it was unfortunate that even the Secretariat staff lacked house-sites whereas huge chunks of Government land in and around the city had gone to big houses, and other private parties. He would review the matter and, if necessary, scrap the allotments.

He appealed to employees to work for the poor with commitment, reminding them that their role in achieving a change was pivotal as they were a "permanent feature" of the system while the Chief Minister was a passing element. The term for a political party would normally be for five years and "at most, it can't be more than nine years," he said in an oblique reference to N. Chandrababu Naidu amidst chuckles from the gathering.

Dr. Reddy worshipped at the Pochamma temple and offered namaz at the mosque on the premises and received scores of bouquets on way to the dais. He swiped the ID card at the C block and moved straight to his chamber and occupied his chair at 11.38 a.m. He left the premises soon after signing a file.

At the meeting, the Chief Secretary said the staff would have to qualify their affection for Dr. Reddy through its work in the coming days. Staff leaders, including A. Ramakrishna Rao, coordination committee chairman, G. Subhash, co-chairman, and G. Purna Rao, secretary-general, promised him that they would leave no stone unturned to realise the dreams of Dr. Reddy. Their other major demand was release of 20 per cent interim relief.

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

Andhra Pradesh