Unauthorised layouts come up around Penukonda in Anantapur

Anantapur: Hundreds of unauthorised layouts had sprung up in and around Penukonda where land prices skyrocketed due to the establishment of Kia Motors and realtors are doing roaring business selling plots at exorbitant prices.

The Kia Motors brought a lot of change in Penukonda which emerged as industrial hub. Already 20 ancillary industries were set up in the surroundings of Kia Motors.

The industrialisation of Penukonda had opened up avenues for the establishment of restaurants, coffee houses, lodges, transport companies and heavy machinery equipment carriers. There was also a sudden surge in demand for housing and business establishments.

Taking advantage of the developments, realtors and politicians purchased huge chunks of private lands, including agriculture lands for conversion into housing layouts. The realtors have been indulging in preparing unauthorised layouts and selling them at exorbitant prices without the approval of Anantapur Hindupur Urban Development Authority (AHUDA).

The realtors' are not willing to adhere to AHUDA norms and regulations was due to stringent norms with regard to laying of roads, leaving open spaces for parks and for public utility.

Panchayat officials were turning a blind eye to the violations by realtors. There are nearly 100 private layouts in 10 mandals and 95 panchayats spread in Puttaparthi, Bukkapatnam, Somandepalle, Kothacheruvu, Hindupur, Lepakshi, Chilamattur, Penukonda, and Gorantla mandals.

In all these mandals AHUDA had advised Panchayats against giving approvals for housing projects. But panchayats continue to accord approvals, some with old dates. The realtors take Panchayat approvals and are ignoring stringent norms and procedures set by AHUDA and thereby depriving the government of huge revenue.

AHUDA has been asking Panchayats to apprise it on the unapproved layouts. Presently, AHUDA does not have the needed field staff to monitor happenings at the ground level. Divisional Panchayat Officer Vijay Kumar said to The Hans India that action will be taken against unauthorised layouts.