Date:26/05/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/05/26/stories/2005052604800600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Land distribution second phase from July 30

Staff Reporter

"Programme would help tackle unrest in rural areas"

HYDERABAD: The second phase of the land distribution programme to the landless poor will be launched on July 30 with the Government planning to invite the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, for the function.

The Revenue Minister, D. Prasada Rao, told a two-day Joint Collectors' conference here on Wednesday that land distribution would be a continuous affair. The Government had identified poor landless labourers and distributed 1.56 lakh acres under the first phase. Other States were keen on following Andhra Pradesh example which had successfully completed the first phase, he added.

The conference got underway to deliberate the progress of land acquisition in the newly sanctioned irrigation projects, assignment of lands for the second phase of distribution, discussion on land survey and records, review distribution of pattadar pass books and title deeds.

Distribution of surplus lands to the landless would go a long way in tackling unrest in the rural areas where influential persons kept vast acres of land. The land distribution programme would address this problem.

Land bank

The Finance Minister, K. Rosaiah, said that plans were afoot to create a land bank, which would identify all the surplus, Government, forest, and endowment lands. The data available would be useful in distributing land to the landless poor and compensate for the forest land acquired for irrigation projects.

Mr. Rosaiah cautioned revenue officials to take precautions and prevent repeat of the Yeleru land acquisition scam while acquiring land. A sum of Rs. 800 crores has been earmarked for land acquisition and Rs. 300 crores more would be released to complete the works.

The Major Irrigation Minister, Ponnala Laxmaiah, admitted hardships in land acquisition. The Government had identified 26,000 acres to compensate the acquisition of forest lands. The Home Minister, K. Jana Reddy, said there was need to create permanent land survey records, and suggested a comprehensive action plan to overcome the problems relating to land acquisition.