Date:05/07/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/07/05/stories/2009070559670300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

VUDA assurance on land-pooling

Staff Reporter

The unique project taken up at Paradesipalem

Works delayed beyond stipulated time due to legal issues
Officials directed to get clearances for lands in the project

VISAKHAPATNAM: Works relating to the prestigious Land-Pooling project initiated by VUDA will be continued and the farmers and land-owners who are part of the project will be receiving their share of benefits, VUDA Vice-Chairman V.N. Vishnu has said.

He assured land-owners who met him on Friday that there was no dilemma or stalemate in the implementation of the project. The land-owners who offered lands to the project said in a memorandum the time set for the completion of the project was over and urged him to take steps for resumption of work and completion of the project.

The unique land-pooling project has been taken up by the VUDA at Paradesipalem in an extent of around 300 acres with voluntary participation from farmers and land-owners. After development of the land, VUDA will return 1,800 square yards of plotted area per acre to the land-owners.

The works have been delayed beyond the stipulated time due to legal issues raised by some of the participating land owners, said Mr. Vishnu. Since the lands in dispute are not at one location but scattered, it proved a hurdle for the work, he added. Few land owners are yet to hand over their land to VUDA and that also led to delay. The Vice-Chairman assured the land owners that the development works in the project would be taken up sector-wise or phase-wise identifying and grouping the undisputed land.

Panel to be set up

To identify and suggest from which part of the project the works should be recommence, the Vice-Chairman announced setting up of a Committee comprising VUDA officials and representatives of the land-owners. VUDA Secretary, Estate Officer and Chief Urban Planner are members of the committee from VUDA and the land-owners are asked to nominate three members from among them. The Vice-Chairman directed the committee to give its suggestions by July 9. He also directed the Secretary and Estate Officer of VUDA to get the clearances, if any, for the government lands in the project.