The Hindu Business Line : AP to create land bank for distribution to poor

The Finance Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, addressing the Joint Collectors' meeting in Hyderabad on Wednesday. The Home Minister, Mr K. Jana Reddy, the Revenue Minister, Mr D. Prasada Rao, and the Minister for Major Irrigation, Mr Ponnala Laxmaiah, are also seen. - K. Ramesh Babu

Hyderabad , May 25

THE State Government is planning to create a land bank and expects to launch second phase of land distribution programme to the landless poor later this year. The State Government is planning to invite the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, to commission the second phase, possibly in July.

Addressing a two-day Joint Collectors' conference here on Wednesday, the Revenue Minister, Mr D. Prasada Rao, said that the land distribution would be a continuous process and the Government had identified poor landless labourers and distributed 1.56 lakh acres under the first phase. Other States were keen to emulate the AP model based on the success of the first phase.

The conference was aimed at deliberating the progress of land acquisition for various irrigation projects sanctioned, assignment of lands for second phase of distribution, discussion on land survey and records, review distribution of pattadar pass books and title deeds and implementation of land ceiling laws and distribution of surplus ceiling land.

Distribution of surplus lands to the landless would go a long way in tackling unrest in the rural areas where influential persons hold several acres of land. The land distribution programme is trying to address this problem.

The Finance Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, said the Government was in the process of creating a land bank, which would identify all the surplus lands — Government, forest and endowment. Based on the information gathered, these would be distributed to the landless poor and help compensate people whose lands have been acquired for irrigation projects.

Mr Rosaiah said Rs 800 crore has been earmarked for land acquisition and Rs 300 crore more would be released to complete the works. The cost of compensation to the oustees had been included while preparing estimates for the irrigation projects to avoid delay in payment.

Later, the Major Irrigation Minister, Mr Ponnala Laxmaiah, expressed that there were hardships in land acquisition and said incentives were given to the staff to complete this cumbersome task. The Government had identified 26,000 acres to compensate the acquisition of forest lands.

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