Land sharks grab government land in Vizag

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, July 1, 2013: With land prices skyrocketing government lands worth billions in the open market is being encroached by real estate agents in the city.

In a fresh case of illegal encroachment of around 25 acres spread across various survey numbers in Kurmannapalem, the Lokayukta had to interfere to free the land from land-grabbers. 

The value of the 25 acres in the open market is said to be around Rs 125 crore. Interestingly though the issue was brought to the notice of the state authorities last year itself, the officials were mum and it prompted locals to approach the Lokayukta.

It was in September last year that locals of Kurmannapalem coming under Gajuwaka mandal approached the revenue department asking it to probe the illegal encroachment of 25 acres in survey numbers 23, 24, 27 and 29 near a real estate venture. 

The land was allegedly encroached by local politicians and they plotted to sell it to the gullible at a ‘cheaper price’. A memo was also issued on September 26, 2012 asking the special chief secretary and the chief commissioner of land administration to enquire into the allegations and if encroachments were found to take necessary action. The memo also said the issue should be treated as immediate.

With no response from the district administration even after the memo from the revenue department, the complainants approached the Lokayukta, which asked the collector to submit a detailed report and details of the action taken before July 22. The revenue staff then swung into action and took over the encroached land.

“We have inspected the land and found that mischief was done by the real estate agent who is having a venture adjacent to the government land. He included the government land by extending the border into his venture.

We have destroyed six foundations on the said land and gravel roads. In a couple of days we will be launching criminal proceedings against the encroachers,” Gajuwaka Tahsildhar Simhadri Rao told this correspondent.

It is also learnt that the encroachers tampered with government records and documents to sell the government land.