AP adopts HMDA Bill amid protest

Hyderabad, Mar 26 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh Assembly tonight adopted by voice vote a Bill for creation of Metropolitan Development Authority for the Hyderabad Metropolitan Region even as the entire Opposition pressed for sending the Bill to a select committee for further consideration.

Even as Municipal Administration Minister K Ranga Rao, who piloted the bill, maintained there was no need for sending the Bill to select committee, Opposition TDP, CPI, CPI(M), BJP and the AIMIM urged the government not to go ahead with it in a ''hasty manner'' as it allegedly went against the spirit of the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act.

As Panel Speaker N Manohar began to put the clauses to vote, agitated Opposition members rushed to the well and staged a noisy protest.

Later, the Bill to develop the capital region into a mega metropois was passed by voice vote amidst thumping of desks by ruling party members.

The House also adopted the bill to amend the Andhra Pradesh Assigned Lands (Prohibition of Transfers) Act, 1977 to regularise purchases of assigned lands made by landless poor in good faith.

The Assembly also adopted a Bill to amend section 2(s) of the Industrial Disputes Act to include sales promotion employees under the definition of workmen as suggested by the Union Labour Ministry.

Another bill to further amend the Andhra Pradesh Payment of Salaries and Pension and removal of Disqualification Act,1953, increasing the constituency allowance of legislators from Rs 20,000 to Rs 35,000 with effect from January one, 2002 was also adopted.

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