VISAKHAPATNAM: With complaints pertaining to tampering of revenue records and land grab by private players in and around the city flooding the Special Investigation Team (SIT), the government has finally widened the ambit of the probe team which will now investigate into all the allegations related to land irregularities.
Earlier, the government confined the SIT probe only to record tampering cases and the Opposition parties have been demanding that the team must investigate into all the land scam complaints.
In an order issued by the government on Friday said that the SIT, henceforth, would probe into all the land regularities complaint.
On Saturday, the last date of receiving pleas from public, the SIT received a whopping 665 complaints, taking the total count to more than 2,553. “After careful examination of the matter, the government has increased the scope of investigation. Now, SIT will probe into the allegations pertaining to all cases of change in classification of government land, land assigned to ex-servicemen, political sufferers, government land grabbed by private parties, government land that have been developed into private properties and institutions without following procedure,” said an order issued by Chief Secretary Dinesh Kumar on Saturday.
After comprehensive inquiry, the SIT will submit report in the stipulated time, said the order copies of which have been marked to SIT chief, special chief secretary to revenue department, Vizag collector, city police commissioner and the DGP.
After the government order was issued, BJP MLA Vishnukumar Raju demanded an extension on the complaint receiving time. CPM leader K Ramakrishna said that the government must order a comprehensive probe with a High court sitting Judge to bring all the culprits irrespective of ranks and files to book. Meanwhile, YSR Congress leader Botsa Satyanarayana demanded a CBI probe into all land irregularities reported from in and around city and 10 surrounding mandals.
‘No misuse of funds in MedTech park project’
A day after roads and buildings minister Ch Ayyanna Patrudu submitted some evidence on land issues to the SIT, claiming that nearly 1,700 acres of land are prone to encroachments and land irregularities in AP Medical Technology Park in the Madurwada and Rushikonda zone, collector Pravin Kumar said all necessary precautions were taken in disbursal of compensation and no misuse of funds occurred. “The Med-tech park is a prestigious project and it will create nearly 24,000 jobs to the local youth. Around 250 medical equipment manufacturing companies will set up units here and production will start in three years,” he said.
“Due to the allegations over lapse in compensation payments, the image of the project may be damaged. I have already explained it all to the R& B minister and he was convinced. I request all not to fall for any baseless allegations,” he said. Meanwhile, Ayyanna revealed that he would submit some more documentary evidences to SIT on July 19.