Govt lands allocated to units in realtor hands

Nellore: Valuable sites used by erstwhile industrial organisations have become minting cows for realtors, who have been trying to convert them into residential purposes. Interestingly, even sites allocated for some industrial units at an Industrial Estate located in AK Nagar are being used as catering units, hirer material storage points and others which indicates the negligence of officials in protecting the public lands.

Sponsored by the AP government, the Nellore Cooperative Spinning Mills once located at the present Current Office centre in the city began production in 1971 and earned profits till 1974. The unit ran into huge losses during 1974-78 due to adverse market conditions. Finally, the mill was closed on October 3, 1984. When put up for sale, the Nellore Spinning Mills was sold at Rs 12.33 crore to the Rithwik Projects Limited in 2001.

However, the officials had totally failed to protect huge chunk of valuable government land belongs to Spinning Mills while selling away. Now, there are high-rise buildings in the land. Similar situation is prevailing again in 2018. Efforts were going on for the last few years for converting the precious lands into residential purpose allocated for the Indo-National Limited which was making Nippo dry batteries.

“The Indo-National Limited management is trying to convert the valuable land to an extent of 13 acres worth around Rs 250 crore for commercial use,” alleged S Suresh Reddy, BJP state general secretary, who organised a protest at the factory on Tuesday.

He said the government can use these lands for office complexes and other purposes. “We demand to stop the process with immediate effect and the state government has to respond on this,” the BJP leader said. People are wondering why this sick industrial units are being allowed to make money.

By P V Prasad