AP Left wants ministry for land distribution

Hyderabad, June 12 (UNI) The CPI (M) and the CPI, spearheading the land distribution movement for poor in Andhra Pradesh, today suggested the government form a separate ministry for land reforms along with a Commission to supervise implementation of land distribution on the lines of SC, ST or Human Rights Commission.

Participating in a workshop on the Koneru Ranga Rao Land Committee report at Dr Marri Chenna Reddy HRD Institute here, CPI State Secretary K Narayana claimed there was no concrete survey and data on the availability of surplus land for distribution.

He further alleged the Forest and Revenue Departments were still in conflict on the availability of land for distribution.

Talking about 'Bhooporatam' (land-grabbing movement) undertaken by the Left in the state, Mr Narayana said it should be viewed as a socio-economic and not a law and order problem and demanded a single window system for land distribution.

Opposing the sale of Endowment lands, he asked the government to ensure the recommendations of the Koneru Ranga Rao Committee were implemented within six months.

Mr E Peddi Reddy of the TDP alleged that the Congress Government is going back on its commitment to distribute three lakh acre land annually.

'Though there were nine lakh acre of assigned lands, the government could recover only 1,000 acre so far with major contribution from Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy,' he claimed.

Mr Chinta Samba Murty of the BJP alleged that the government was not disclosing the recommendations of the 'Girglani Commission' on land distribution.

CPI-M State Secretary B V Raghavulu said, the government's decisions were against the spirit of the recommendations of the Koneru Ranga Rao Committee.

He wanted all discussions to end before July and land distributed by the first of August. He also demanded an inquiry into assigned lands held by all the MPs, MLAs and MLCs of Andhra Pradesh.

Mr Paladugu Venkata Rao of the Congress said surplus land could be distributed among the poor after conducting a survey. Care should be taken to ensure these issues do not go to courts as it would be time consuming.

Though the Land Reforms Act had come into force in 1975, it could not be implemented properly due to the negligence of the bureaucracy and litigations, he claimed.

UNI