BJP demands cancellation of salt land lease to Snow White company

Hyderabad, Jan 29 (UNI) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Andhra Pradesh today urged Union Commerce and Industries Minister Kamalnath to cancel the salt land lease deeds to Snow White salt company and others at China Ganjam in Prakasham district.

In a letter to the Minister, a copy of which was made available to the media here, BJP State President Bandaru Dattatraya and BJP Floor Leader in the State Assembly G Kishna Reddy urged the Minister to cancel the deeds and hand it over to the State Government for distribution to the landless poor.

They said salt beds of 1,932 acres at China Ganjam in Prakasham district had been leased out to farmers for making salt.

They said the Salt Commission had permitted lease of land to an extent of 565.55 acres in favour of Snow White Salts and 53 acres to Mandal Praja Parishad Chairman Chinganjam.

However, due to law and order problems, it could not start manufacturing. Due to many representations and agitations, the State Government came forward to take up the issue on behalf of the farmers.

The Andhra Pradesdh Chief Minister wrote a letter in November 2007 in this regard, requesting the Minister to cancel the lease deed on payment of compensation and hand over the land to the Government.

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