Date:12/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/12/stories/2006051219450300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada

Krishna looking for industrial development

K.N. Murali Sankar

APIIC to play the role of a facilitator for landowners and prospective entrepreneurs by acquiring land and developing the basic infrastructure to suit industrial needs

VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) is going to play the role of a facilitator to landowners and entrepreneurs, who want to set up industries in Krishna district. The corporation plans to acquire over 1,500 acres of land at different places in the district and develop basic infrastructure.

Despite having facilities like manpower, road and rail transport, proximity to major cities and access to raw materials, the district is lagging behind in terms of industrial development. The main reason is said to be the spiralling land prices, which forces industrialists to revise their estimated budgets.

Price a deterrent

Though many industrialists from different parts of the State and also from neighbouring States have evinced interest to set up industries in the district, they have given up the idea owing to exorbitant land prices quoted by landlords.

Over half-a-dozen industrialists reportedly backtracked on their proposals, while a couple of others are said to be reconsidering their plans to set up a garment industry and an asbestos sheets unit, according to sources in the industries department.

Land evaluation

In view of the discouraging trends, the APIIC "has decided to acquire land in the district and develop the same to suit industrial needs.

It has selected wastelands, which are not used for agriculture and horticulture, and decided to acquire them.

After taking permission from the district administration, the corporation will issue a notification announcing acquisition of the lands.

A team of appraisers from the APIIC will visit the lands and fix their value. Location of the land, its extent and utility will be considered while judging the value.

Talks with landowners

"We will hold several rounds of talks with the landowners to convince them to sell their lands at the prices quoted by our valuers. We will prefer to enter into a consent award with the landowners, so that the latter cannot approach the court in the future challenging the prices quoted by the corporation," says A.V. Ramakrishna, zonal manager of the APIIC. He, however, refuses to give the details of places from where they will acquire lands.

Once the corporation acquires the lands, it will divide them into sites and allocate them to industrialists. "Many industrialists are approaching us for lands.

Since the district administration too is keen on industrial development, we will complete the acquisition procedure at the earliest," he explains.