Rules flouted to sell `1 cr worth lands

Eluru: Valuable government lands are being sold without government consent in Karapa panchayat limits in West Godavari district.

Ironically, elected body of Panchayat is allegedly selling the government lands by passing namesake resolutions in the council. A total Rs 1 crore worth of lands were sold this way so far.

Lakhs of rupees worth lands were sold or given for free by the governing body, allege former ward members. The issue came to light when a couple of former ward members decided to complain to the enforcement and other officials regarding the land scam in the village.

The former members alleged that in Karapa market centre, the market sheds were raged and valuable wood was looted by land grabbers against whom the panchayat officials complained to the police. However, they withdrew their complaint within 24 hours of lodging the complaint.

They allowed the influential land grabbers to occupy the market shed land along with possession of wood, thanks to the political influences acting over the officials.

While the price of land ranges between Rs 15,000 to Rs 30,000 per square yard, many lands were given for paltry sums to the land grabbers. Even the layouts are getting clearances though the builders failed to show land for community purposes in the layouts.

There are about 20 such layouts issued without giving part of land for community development. This way, they sold lands worth Rs 1 crore, the former ward members alleged.

Two cents of land was given to a minority community recently. The receivers now revealed that they had spent Rs 1 lakh for possessing the land.

Similarly, 15 cents of land was given for community hall by violating rules. Fake resolutions were passed and documents for the land ownerships were given to the grabbers.