The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Land distribution to poor rocks Assembly

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Wednesday, Mar 19, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Land distribution to poor rocks Assembly

Opposition members, except TDP, walk out from House
Speaker urges members to submit written suggestions on how to run the House

HYDERABAD: Legislators belonging to the CPI (M), CPI and the Bharatiya Janata Party staged a walkout from the Assembly on Tuesday alleging irregularities in distribution of agricultural land to the poor.

While, the Opposition members expressed dissatisfaction at the land distribution procedure, the TDP members picked up an argument with Speaker K. R. Suresh Reddy. They demanded that their leader N. Chandrababu Naidu be allowed to rebut the allegations levelled against the then TDP Government.

CPI - ML (New Democracy) member Gummadi Narasaiah, who tabled a question, wanting to know the extent of land distributed to the poor in the four phases by the Government saw other parties finding fault with the process.

Revenue Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao informed the Assembly that the Government had distributed an extent of 6.03 lakh acres to 4.34 lakh beneficiaries since 2005. He said as per the AP Land Reforms (Ceilings of Agricultural Holdings) Act 1973, surplus land accruing as a result of the application of ceiling of holdings was allotted to the landless poor. These beneficiaries were issued patta only after they pay certain amount as fixes by the Act.

Pattas

The CPI (M), CPI, CPI-ML (New Democracy) and BJP members alleged that the agricultural lands were issued to the same persons, who were in possession of the land for decades. They also brought to the notice of the Government that there were instances when hundreds of acres of land were still under the possession of influential people. They decried the delay in issuing patta certificates for the agricultural lands given to the poor.

Dissatisfied with the replies, the Opposition members barring the TDP walked out of the House. TDP member Y. Ramakrishnudu said once the members had walked out, the Minister should not have been given an opportunity to speak. Once he was allowed, Mr. Naidu should also be permitted to speak.

However, Congress members protested when Mr. Naidu rose and criticised the Government. As they demanded a ruling from the chair, the Speaker advised the members to submit written suggestions on how to run the House.

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