The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : YSR rules out probe into land encroachments

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Oct 19, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

YSR rules out probe into land encroachments

By Our Correspondent

VIZIANAGARAM, OCT. 18. The Chief Minister, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, has said that he will get the allegations of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) and the CPI(M-L) Janashakti, that influential persons had encroached upon Government lands in and around the twin cities verified. The Government allotted lands to entrepreneurs for setting up industries and hence there is no need for an enquiry, he has added.

Addressing a press conference before leaving for Hyderabad on Monday, Dr. Reddy said: "Naxalite leaders addagoluga maatladuthunnaru (naxals are talking illogically) and playing to the gallery. The demand for an enquiry is meaningless." He said the lands would not come under agriculture. Ramoji Film City and others must have purchased the land, he said, adding that he would, however, get it verified.

`Personal opinion'

On the reported remark of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, J. Jayalalithaa, that holding talks with naxalites was "a blunder," Dr. Reddy said it might be her personal opinion.

"We want them (naxals) to join the mainstream. At the end of the talks we will request them to give up arms. Carrying arms is meaningless in a sovereign republic because we are all bound by the Constitution."

Referring to `amassing' of wealth by naxalites, Dr. Reddy said: "There is a perception that they are getting strengthened during the peace process."

Toddy-tappers' protest

With regard to the toddy-tappers protest, the Chief Minister said that the tax collection on toddy trees had been slashed to Rs. 50 from the earlier Rs. 550 to make toddy available at cheaper rate and this was done with an intention to check sale of spurious toddy.

Admitting that the GO would have affected some families in the twin cities, the Chief Minister said that the Government would enumerate the affected families and rehabilitate them under various self-employment schemes.

Earlier, the Chief Minister launched the "Rajiv Gandhi Pratibha Pathakam" for training 40-50 tribal students every year for the IIT entrance examination.

He said Chukka Ramaiah, better known as IIT Ramaiah, who was present at the function, would select tribal students of classes 8th, 9th and 10 plus two and train them in coordination with Vikas Educational institutions because the vacancies in various Government departments meant for tribals were not being filled for want of qualified candidates.

He said that the pathakam would be extended to all other tribal areas in the State.

The Chief Minister has promised to supply asbestos sheets for roofing to 20,000 tribal families, who appealed to him for the same during his tour in the agency on Sunday.

Projects in the pipeline

Dr. Reddy said that works worth Rs. 656 crores on various irrigation projects in the district would begin soon and completed in the next three years. The Ministers -- S. Vijayarama Raju and B. Satyanarana -- and Congress MLAs were present.

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