PAC seeks report on land allotments

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) during its visit to a few districts, tried to dig deep to find out how the firms, that were allotted lands by the government were using them and if not, why were they not giving them back.

 Considering the seriousness of the allegations that the allotted lands were being misused and locals were not provided jobs, as promised by the companies, the PAC focused on determining whether the government lands, along with those acquired from the farmers during the last decade, were serving the intended purpose or were misused for amassing wealth.

 Several reports indicate that a majority of the proposals for establishment of industries were a mere smoke screen for covering the real intention_making a quick buck by using the land for real estate deals.

 Recently, several farmers in Medak district met the PAC members and alleged that their lands were acquired at a marginal price compared to the actual market price.

 They also alleged that no industry or firm, for which the land was acquired, had been set up till date.

 They had given their lands with the hope that the industries would generate employment in their district and benefit them and their future generations.

 During its tour to Chittoor district, the committee met farmers who had given their lands for the Sri City Special Economic Zone in Satyavedu.

 They complained that they did not get the expected number of jobs.

 “Moreover, we got only menial jobs despite having good qualifications,” a villager claimed.

 The villagers stated said with their hopes of better jobs crashed, they want to cultivate whatever land that is left in their possession, for which water from the Telugu Ganga needs to be channeled through the Sri City lands.

 The PAC took up the matter of both employment and water with Sri City management and expects a positive response.

 It had also directed the collectors of Vishakapatnam, Medak and Ranga Reddy to submit a detailed report on the land alienated in the last one decade, the reason, promise of employment, current status of the projects, reason for the failure to establish the projects and the number of hands the lands changed.

 They were asked to submit the reports by September 20.

 Sources said that the audit report mentioned only limited inconsistencies regarding land transfers whereas the irregularities were much more than the figures mentioned.

 Several beneficiaries of the state government’s benevolence have reportedly mortgaged those lands and invested the money for different purposes.

 Most of the proposals were limited to table and paper transactions and several fictitious companies were established to get those lands.

 If comments of PAC chairman Revuri Prakash Reddy are any indications, the PAC strongly recommends the government to return the lands to the the farmers if the projects failed to get established.