VIJAYAWADA: Is agri-protection zone in the plan for capital region of the state meant to keep the value of those land down, so that corporates can acquire them cheap in future?
That is what CPM is accusing the state government of doing in the name of capital region development as per the plans submitted by Singapore companies.
CPM CRDA convenor Ch Babu Rao said that by bringing 16 lakh acres, that is 81 per cent of the 8352 sq km of the capital region of the state spread over 60 mandals of Krishna and Guntur districts, under the agri-protection zones, the government had effectively banned land development, that was use of land would not be allowed for any other purpose, including housing.
“It will bring down the land value in those regions and if the government wants to go for land pooling in future for any new project, it will have to face the resistance as it is facing now, since the land value will be at the mercy of the government”, he said.
Since agriculture protection zones do not allow any legal construction of houses, the demand for land and houses in the capital city and core capital area will increase manifold. A person in Nuzvid or Sattenapalli had to construct houses in the capital area only and not near their own towns.
The Left leader said that the government’s move would create a huge housing problem in the near future. “Government employees are being asked to shift to the new capital. Where will they go? Given the high cost of land and rents in the capital city they would like to opt for nearby areas but no construction will be allowed there due to lack of space”, he said.
“It is not just government employees who will require houses.
The expected industrial development in the capital region and its peripherals will spark migrations to the region increasing the demand for houses and land, but the same will not be there.
Even if farmers want to sell their land or develop them they will not be allowed to do so due to the ban on land use for any other purpose on those agriculture protection zones for the next 35 years.
The CPM accused the state government of manipulating land value only to serve the corporate entities, domestic and foreign.
He demanded an all-party meeting on the CRDA development and on capital region construction plans.
Bapu Rao said that the all-party meeting was a norm as it was done in the case of VUDA.