The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Implement LA Act in spirit

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Monday, Sep 08, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Implement LA Act in spirit

The action of the Government in forcibly imposing the provisions of Land Acquisition Act, 1984 for the projects of Polavaram, Industrial Park of Chilamathur in Anantapur district, including the Chitavathi and other rivers, Coastal Corridor, Petrochemical and Petroleum Industries between Visakhapatnam and Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh and the Tata Motor Cars industry in Singur of West Bengal, defying the objections of the land losers, fishermen and tribals perched on the banks of Godavari river, is ludicrous.

The LA Act is intended for ‘public purposes’ as defined therein in unequivocal terms, but not for private sector undertakings – indigenous

or foreign. Unless the ‘purpose’ of emergent need for the ‘public’, enquiry under Section 5 A should be utilized to elicit the views of the would-be victims, and green signal should be obtained with regard to environment, public health, depletion of underground streams and traditional customary rights of the fishermen dwellers in the vicinity.

The lacuna in this Act is that fixation of land value is left to the Collectors and subjected to revision by local civil courts.

The drastic enhancement of the value of the lands under Yeleru project by the Sub Court in Anakapalle and involving the Government in heavy fiscal commitment, and forcing it to approach the higher judiciary bears ample testimony to the loophole.

It should be plugged statutorily and the LA Act should be sharpened to extend only to ‘Public purposes’ without allowing extraneous considerations to creep in.

Agricultural lands should

be safeguarded at any cost,

in view of the growing

needs of food grains in the country.

N.V. Rama Rao

Visakhapatnam

Give up vote-bank politics

Being an ardent admirer of TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu,

I was a little disappointed to see that one of the issues in the TDP agenda was reducing the lake area of Kolleru.

No party should interfere with the fragile eco system, and that too after the apex court had delivered its verdict in interests of the state and nation.

The proliferation of political parties is forcing even political leaders with a vision like Mr. Chandrababu Naidu to succumb to vote bank politics, and other parties are forced to follow suit.

It appears we all have admit to the adage “that which cannot be cured, must be endured”

Gopal Tallamraju

Visakhapatnam

Repair dug up roads

The entire area of Chandapuri Colony, Bank Colony and Viratnagar in Prahladapuram present a horrible picture with trenches dug up and with heaps of soil on either side of them. The roads are not relaid which is causing severe inconvenience to vehicular traffic.

I appeal to the authorities concerned to complete with work immediately to prevent traffic hazards.

M.S.R. Sarma

Visakhapatnam

Replace soiled notes

The customers are forced to take old, soiled and torn currency notes at the ATMs of State Bank of India in Kakinada.

I request the bank authorities to replace the soiled currency with new notes in arrangement with the Reserve Bank of India.

K. M. Rao

Kakinada

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