HYDERABAD: Allaying apprehensions over the recently passed Andhra Pradesh Assigned Lands (Prohibition of Transfers) Amendment Bill, the State Government has made it clear that the assigned lands in possession of the poor and the weaker sections will not be touched during the drive to resume them.

The Government will not resume assigned lands purchased unknowingly by the poor and it will, instead, ensure that such lands are regularised in the names of those in their possession.

This was made clear by Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy here on Sunday while renewing his call to those enjoying assigned lands to voluntarily surrender them to the Government within 90 days.

Dr. Reddy asked the district Collectors to be on alert while dealing with the assigned lands while the mandal level authorities should ensure that separate cells were opened in their office to identify such lands.

In this direction, he asked the mandal revenue officers to prepare lists of assigned lands under their jurisdiction to ascertain whether they were in possession of the original allottees. He wanted local people to inform the officials about the assigned lands in possession of others so that no attempt was made to tamper with the records.

Field inspections

Once the lists were prepared, the revenue officials concerned would conduct field inspections that would be followed by submission of detailed report to the assignment committees headed by the legislators concerned.

The Government was committed to distributing the resumed assigned lands to the poor and the landless while the non-cultivable lands would be utilised for public purposes like construction of hospitals and schools.

Panel report

The Cabinet Committee on assigned lands headed by Municipal Administration Minister Koneru Ranga Rao would submit its report on December 28 and some major decisions on land assignment was expected to be taken on the same day. Referring to the political parties' criticism on his decision to voluntarily surrender lands in possession of his family, Dr. Reddy said while he had intended to set an example by volunteering to give the lands, some political parties were raising hue and cry, as they were afraid of losing the lands they were enjoying.

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