CPI demands whitepaper on status of govt lands

Vijayawada, Sep16: The CPI today demanded that the Andhra Pradesh Government to issue a whitepaper on the current status of the government land, even as it warned of intensifying the ongoing 'Bhooporatam' (land struggle), with the participation of Central leaders.

Addressing a press conference here, CPI state unit secretary K Narayana said the whitepaper should spell out how many acres of land was available with the government in each town, for distribution to the landless poor. Land grabbers were encroaching upon lands owned by Government, Endowment and Wakf, he alleged. The land struggle was also to prevent the ''land mafia'' from encroachment, he added.

The CPI leader alleged that the government was selling out lands to the influential people and IT companies. The realestate boom had triggered an unprecedented hike in land rates, making it unaffordable to middle class people.

UNI