Date:04/03/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/03/04/stories/2005030408370400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Panel recommendations to be implemented in six months

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, MARCH 3. The Minorities Welfare and Wakf Minister, Md. Fareeduddin, has said that the recommendations of the two House committees on the Wakf properties will be implemented in six months.

Cutting across party lines members voiced concern at the large-scale encroachment of wakf lands all over the State. Demanding stern action against encroachers, the members wanted the Government to initiate steps to reclaim the lands at the earliest.

Replying to a question by Anam Ramnarayan Reddy and others, Mr. Fareeduddin admitted that 81,591 acres out of 1.45 lakh acres Wakf lands had been encroached. Two House committee reports had confirmed the encroachments. He said the Central Wakf Act had to be amended to provide house sites and other facilities to poor people out of the Wakf lands.

Earlier reports

The MIM floor leader, Akbaruddin Owaisi, questioned the fate of the two House committee reports submitted in 1997 and 1999. The value of Wakf properties was Rs. 36,000 crores. He wanted an efficient person to be nominated Wakf Board chairman.

Mr. Ramnarayan Reddy said more than 300 acres had been encroached in Nellore district. Another Congress member, Devineni Nehru, said that due to a call given by CPI (M) MLA, M. A. Gafoor, people belonging to minority community had occupied Wakf lands in Nidamanur in the Kankipadu constituency. The CPI (M) floor leader, N. Narsimhaiah, clarified that the poor people had occupied the lands as attempts were being made to sell it to influential people.