Ramanaidu studios, Daspalla lands targeted
The Capital News
Andhra Pradesh chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has launched a scathing attack on the YSRCP government, accusing it of widespread exploitation of natural resources and destruction of forests over the past five years. In his power-point presentation on Monday, CM Chandrababu highlighted alleged corruption and misuse of lands, minerals, and forest wealth under the YSRCP regime’s policies. The CM accused YSRCP leaders of engaging in land grabbing activities in Visakhapatnam, Ongole, and Chittoor, purportedly under the guise of housing projects.
He lamented the adverse environmental impacts caused by such activities, citing instances where litigation and illegal constructions led to substantial land degradation and deforestation. “We have witnessed how natural resources have been pillaged through corrupt practices, exacerbating environmental concerns,” CM Chandrababu stated. He alleged that urban lands in places like Nellore and Dharmavaram were unlawfully appropriated, often masquerading as housing initiatives or office constructions under the guise of democratic processes. He further criticized the implementation of a Land Titling Act, which he claimed facilitated land theft without due process.
The CM also raised specific instances where some properties like Ramanaidu Studios in Visakhapatnam were allegedly targeted for demolition under false pretenses of residential zoning. He pointed to controversial land allocations in Daspalla in Visakhapatnam and attempts to divert lands designated for religious purposes towards housing developments.
Highlighting legal actions underway, CM Chandrababu mentioned ongoing investigations into cases involving fraudulent documentation in Ongole and alleged misappropriation of settlement lands in Tirupati using Section 22A provisions. Former minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy also came under scrutiny for allegedly issuing land titles (rytwari pattas) for nearly 982 acres in Punganur constituency without proper authorization.
The CM further accused the YSRCP leadership of encroaching upon and misallocating lands designated for SC, ST, BC, and minority communities, ostensibly for housing projects without adequate compensation. “YSRCP leaders determined arbitrarily where housing colonies would be established, often at exorbitant prices, and involving dubious transactions,” CM Chandrababu asserted.
He cited instances of overpriced land acquisitions, such as in Gannavaram, where land was allegedly purchased at inflated rates far exceeding market values