'Administration will retrieve surplus land'

Puducherry, Apr 23: The territorial administrartion will identify and retrieve government surplus land occupied by private parties, Chief Minister N Rangasamy told the Legislative Assembly today.

Replying to a question, Mr Rangasamy said two cases pertaining to surplus government land identified under the Land Reforms Act 1974, were pending in the Supreme Court besides 27 cases pending at Madras High Court for the past ten years.

The administration was taking all steps to expedite the disposal of the cases, he added.

DMK member R Siva, through a supplimentary question, wanted to know whether the surplus lands identified were still under the government control.

Pointing out that the lands were sold as housing plots, he said some factories were coming up in the lands on the East Coast Road.

Several members wondered how the lands identified as surplus under the Land Reforms Act was registered by the Registration Department.

To another question, Education Minister M O H F Shajahan said the government would soon construct additional classrooms in all schools.

The administration had received adequate funds for construction of classrooms and implementation of Sarva Siksha Abhiyan scheme.

UNI