ANANTAPUR: The Rajya Sabha member of CPI (M), P. Madhu, has urged the State Government to review its policies for urban areas as it is likely to widen social disparities.

Talking to reporters here on Thursday, he criticised the Government for issuing a memo banning allotment of house sites for the poor in urban areas and division of municipal wards into localities based on the municipal revenue.

He said that the decision against allotment of house sites for the poor would drive them away from the urban areas and the division of wards would discriminate them in the implementation of development works.

40 lakh families apply

He recalled that as the leader of Opposition before the Assembly elections, the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, had promised the poor in urban areas of house sites, houses, ration cards and pension among other benefits. About 40 lakh poor families in urban areas all over the State had applied for house sites during the TDP rule and they had given their applications again after the Congress assumed power. By deciding against giving house sites in urban areas, the State Government was acting against a United Nations resolution of development of poor in urban areas. No other State Government in the country had taken such an anti-poor measure, the CPI (M) leader said.

At the same time, the Government had issued a GO facilitating formation of land banks in urban areas for allotment of house sites to present and former legislators and Members of Parliament, civil servants, officials, judges and other employees. He sought to know how far the Government move was justifiable.

Demanding withdrawal of such anti-poor memo immediately, he said that 25 party leaders would launch an indefinite fast in Hyderabad from July 15 on the issue of house sites. A similar protest would be taken up in all districts on July 16. The agitation would be intensified with actions like occupation of lands and jail bharo among others from July 20.

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