CJFS lands for industries decried

• Govt issued GO taking over all CJFS lands and handing over the same for industrialists
• SC, ST farmers oppose government’s decision
• Office bearers of few CJFS to challenge GO in court

Tirupati: Revenue and cooperative officials have started the process of taking over the Cooperative Joint Farming Society (CJFS) lands across the district. 

But, hundreds of SC, ST farmers, who are enjoying CJFS lands, are opposing the state government’s decision. Meanwhile, the office bearers of few CJFS are thinking to challenge the GO in the court of justice. 

Few months ago, the AP government issued a GO of taking over all CJFS lands through the liquidation process and allotting the same to the proposed industries. 

262 liquidators were appointed by the Cooperative department had issued notices to all the CJF societies, who have been enjoying the rights over lands. 

But, the cooperative officials say that notices were served to all beneficiaries of the CJFS lands as some of them are enjoying in a fraudulent way. 

The lands would be re-allotted to genuine members and remaining lands would be handed over to the Revenue department, they said. The CJFS lands can be taken over by government from beneficiaries after serving notices to them.

There are allegations that revenue officials are taking over CJFS lands from the beneficiaries in several mandals without serving notices and handing over the same to the industrialists. 

In Satyavedu mandal, revenue officials allotted CJFS lands in Thondur village to industries without paying compensation to the beneficiaries. 

In 2006, around 150 acres of CJFS lands in Surappakasam village were handed over to beneficiaries in survey numbers from 758 to 772 in Renigunta mandal. 
Without intimation, the land was allocated to the TUDA for development of infrastructure projects as the site is close to national highway on the outskirts of Tirupati. 

Even, the government did not issue patta cancellation proceedings. Recently, few farmers have tried to cultivate the lands. 

But, the TUDA officials warned farmers to file police cases against them if they entered CJFS lands. 

Responding over the controversy, Surappakasam CJF Society president G Venkata Subbaiah of Renigunta mandal said district officials are taking over the lands to benefit industrialists and corporate companies. 

On several occasions, the CJFS land issue was brought to the notice of revenue officials and Tirupati Sub-Collector. But, no response from them, he lamented.