Andhra Pradesh   

Projects: farmers must get better deal, says YSR

Special Correspondent

Several projects coming up around Hyderabad need a lot of land

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy favoured payment of decent compensation to farmers and the poor whose lands were being acquired for the Outer Ring Road (ORR) and other major projects in and around the city.

Dr. Reddy's observation came at the inauguration of the Andhra Pradesh Fire Services and Home Guard Training Institute, constructed on the sprawling 10-acre campus at Vattinagulapalli village on the outskirts of the city on Sunday.

There was a need to review the registration value of land every three months, he said.

Good package sought

As many major projects were coming up around the city, large tracts of land were required. "As the Government compensation rates are low, there is resentment among the farmers," Dr. Reddy noted and suggested that they should be provided a decent compensation package, which could be at least 50 per cent higher than the existing rates.

Referring to the complaints from some farmers that the institute had been constructed on land allotted to them, Dr. Reddy directed Ranga Reddy Collector L. Premachandra Reddy to look into their problems and ensure that they get compensation for the land alienated for the institute.

Home Minister K. Jana Reddy said more and more public-private partnership was needed to improve the facilities in the Fire Services Department and complimented the Information Technology companies, which had contributed to the construction of the model fire station.

Plea for more land

He urged the Chief Minister to release Rs. 4 crore to take up repairs of the old fire tenders.

He said if 10 acres of additional land was alienated to the new institute, a regional disaster management training institute could also be established.

Director-General of Police Swaranjit Sen said there was an urgent need to increase the strength of home guards and also hike their daily wages.

He said some home guards could also be absorbed in the police services by bringing down their training period.

He suggested that the civil defence department should also be tagged on to the fire service and home guards department.

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