Date:13/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/13/stories/2008041358910600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

ABVP seeks white paper on Osmania University lands

HYDERABAD: Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has sought the removal of the legal advisor representing Osmania University in land cases citing his failure to win even a single case in the last 30 years.

“The university has not won a single case against land grabbers in the last 30 years despite the glaringly blatant land grabbing,” K. Raju, ABVP State secretary and Ravi Kumar, organising secretary of Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts told reporters on Friday. They said land grabbing in the university had been going on unabatedly since 1977 and the land had been reduced to 1,300-odd acres now from the original 2,032 acres.

Mr. Ravi Kumar wanted the university to release a white paper on the lands occupied by various individuals and groups and how many cases were pending against them apart from how the university had tackled the entire issue.

Re-survey

He also wanted a re-survey of the entire university land by the Chief Commissioner, Land Administration. He alleged that recently two acres of university land in Begumpet was taken over by the IAS Officers Association to be used as parking area. “How come such costly land is given to IAS officers?” he asked.

He said had the university implemented the recommendations of Justice Chinnappa Reddy Committee, precious land could have been saved. Now several colonies had come up on the campus including one named as Bangladesh Basti!