AP Capital Imbroglio: AP may invoke Land Act

Move prompted by tepid response from farmers

Guntur: The State government is exploring the possibility of invoking Land Acquisition Act to take over farmlands for the capital city as the farmers’ response for land pooling still remained tepid, it is learnt. “If the prospects of acquiring land through pooling remains bleak, the government may invoke law by February first week to speed up building capital city,” sources said here on Friday.

The State government issued notifications on different dates, urging the farmers to submit “consent letters” in Panchayath offices. The officials were directed to complete all formalities by February first week. In fact, the deadline for submission of “consent letters” by farmers would end in the first week of February.

Minister for Municipal Administration P Narayana, despite his relentless efforts, could not persuade farmers in Thulluru mandal to part with their lands. It may be recalled that the farmers in this mandal in the past were traditional TDP voters. It should, however, be noted that Narayana was able to persuade farmers in some areas in the capital region to surrender their lands.

The officials claimed that the Minister had secured “consent letters” from farmers to part with 1200 acres on a single day on Thursday. But on the other hand, the officials contradicted themselves by saying that the government had so far secured “consent letters” from farmers to enable the authorities to acquire just 8,000 acres so far.