VUDA VC justifies land pooling

Visakhapatnam: Vice-Chairman of Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority T Baburao Naidu defended land pooling system and said the entire process would be transparent and as per the government guidelines.

Addressing a press conference in the backdrop of criticism by Opposition parties and ruling alliance partner BJP, the Vice- Chairman said the land-pooling scheme is voluntary and the farmers would not be forced to part with their lands.

“Surprisingly they are coming forward to offer their lands.’’ Naidu said and added that the process is yet to begin. The Mudapaka lands which has became an issue would be sorted out through an inquiry.

BJP MLA P Vishmu Kumar Raju and several people alleged that some influential persons, particularly belonging to ruling TDP entered into an agreement on assigned land and took the D-pattas (title deeds) of farmers by paying an advance of Rs 1 lakh and promising Rs 10 lakh per acre.

However, two groups of people are staking their claims at Mudapaka.
A detailed procedure was laid down for land-pooling and the District Collector would resume assigned lands for development to give it to land-pooling, he said.

Purchasing these lands would not benefit outsiders as the GOs were clear in protecting the rights of farmers, the Vice-Chancellor said.

The Land Pooling Ownership Certificate (LPOC) would be issued only to the assignees or to the legal heirs. Preliminary verification for 390 acres by VUDA officials was completed for land-pooling at Sowbhagyapuram, Dabbanda and Kommadi and details sent to the Collector for verification in revenue records.

After issuing Form 1, objections would be called for at various stages and maps of the proposed area would be displayed and it would take about eight months for the process to be completed before final land pooling scheme was implemented, the Vice-Chairman said.

However, representatives of Left parties strongly opposed the State government move to initiate land pooling and demanded a white paper from the government on the land allotments by Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority.