VISAKHAPATNAM: Lok Ayukta Justice V. Ramanujam, who is on a visit to the city, heard 15 cases on Thursday and closed four of them.

On a complaint that people were facing difficulties due to lack of drinking water facility in Boddapadu village of Narsipatnam division, he advised Narsipatnam Divisional Revenue Officer Balasubrahmanyam to go to the village immediately, take the necessary steps and send him a report.

Land acquisition case

On another complaint from an NGO that a Government employee from Ponduru of Srikakulam district was allotted Government land 20 years ago, the Lok Ayukta ordered acquisition of the land and distribute it to the poor.

Addressing the special court on the second day, Mr. Ramanujam called for preserving the temples and royal edicts which mentioned the rich history and culture of the country.

Simhachalam Temple Executive Officer V. Sankara Reddi, who was present, told the Lok Ayukta that the Devasthanam had 9,069 acres and 22 cents of land spread over Adavivaram, Vepagunta, Purushothapuram and Cheemalapalli villages and Visakhapatnam city. In accordance with GO no. 578, 170 acres of land was regularised involving 3,000 persons.

Regulatory panel

Constructions had come up on another 591 acres and 65 cents and their cost ranged from Rs.1,000 to Rs.6,000 per square yard at present. The Government had set up a Land Regulatory Commission with the District Collector and VUDA Vice-Chairman, but the regularisation process was now stopped because of a High Court stay, he stated.

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