Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam   

Bulk land auction by VUDA opposed

VISAKHAPATNAM: The sale of bulk lands by the VUDA in public auction was against the spirit and letter of Urban Areas (Development) Act, T.V.S.K. Kanaka Raju and Ch. Ramakotayya of LEAD, an organisation formed to take up public causes, said at a press conference here on Thursday.

Mr. Kanaka Raju said that urban development authorities were formed to ensure organised development and a roof over the head of all sections of people and the poor.

The objective had been lost sight of over a period of time and VUDA turned into a realtor under the government’s instructions. The sale of bulk land at a recent auction had seen the price of an acre of land touching Rs.7 crores. Auction of land at such a high price would lead to its concentration in the hands of rich realtors.

Mr. Kanaka Raju said concentration of land was against the Directive Principles of the Constitution. LEAD would file a public interest litigation on bulk land auction, he added. If the government allowed such indiscriminate auction it would end up without land reserves and might have to acquire private land for public purposes.

Unlike other organisations, urban development bodies had been formed with a specific purpose of developing that area and once that was achieved it would have to be dissolved, he said. LEAD would chalk out an agenda to take up issues of public interest, he added.

Mr. Ramakotaiah said development was not being taken up in the right spirit by VUDA that turned it into a commercial venture.

Any attempt to sell the rythu bazaar land at MVP Colony would be opposed, he asserted.

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