Date:21/06/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/06/21/stories/2005062101971700.htm

Back AP sets up panel on urban lands

Our Bureau

Hyderabad , June 20

THE Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Dr Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, has asked the Urban Development Authorities (UDAs) in the State to improve their financial muscle by identifying and tapping Government lands.

He has directed the officials to constitute a three-member committee comprising the Principal Secretary (Finance), the Secretary (Revenue) and the Secretary (Municipal Administration and Urban Development) to identify Government lands in urban areas. The panel will also look into the possibility of transferring them.

The Chief Minister told UDA officials to stay focussed on building infrastructure and implementation of master plans. "Don't undertake commercial activities such as hospitality projects," he told them.

At a review meeting held here, he said, "Commercial projects were not UDAs' cup of tea." The Chief Minister asked the officials to go ahead with the Rs 500-crore mass transportation system in Visakhapatnam.