The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : TDP stages walkout over encroachments

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 25, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

TDP stages walkout over encroachments

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, MARCH 24. Telugu Desam members today staged a walkout protesting against the administration's lack of response to their demand for ordering a judicial enquiry into encroachment of Government land in and around Tirupati.

Before leading the walkout, the senior TDP leader, Y. Ramakrishnudu, charged the Revenue Minister, D. Prasada Rao, with misleading the House and expressed dissatisfaction over the reply.

Earlier, Mr. Rao told R. Chenga Reddy (Congress) that attempts were made since 1985 to occupy more than 761 acres of Government/institutional land worth Rs.89.71 crores in and around Tirupati.

Action initiated

He said Revenue officials were not involved or colluded in the land grabbing. Different groups of people were involved in land-grabbing activities and the Revenue authorities were taking steps to book cases against them.

Criminal cases

He cited instances in which criminal cases were booked and the Government approached the apex court to evict encroachers.

TDP flayed

He criticised the TDP regime for not taking action.

The previous Government did not review the situation though large-scale encroachments took place during the last 10 years.

Firm action

Firm action was now being taken to evict the grabbers.

A task force was set up under the Joint Collector to protect Government lands.

He and the Endowments Minister, M. Satyanarayana Rao, had visited Tirupati and reviewed the situation and assured the members that not a cent of land would be allowed to be encroached.

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