Agri surplus land can be sold to industries

Hyderabad
July 27: The state government on Monday tabled two Bills in the Assembly.
The first one pertains to facilitating the sale of agricultural surplus land and the other one is regarding the weightage marks to be added to intermediate marks for admission into professional courses through Eamcet.
As per the Andhra Pradesh Land Reforms (ceiling on agricultural holdings) Act 1973, an individual in the state cannot hold more than 56 acres of agricultural land. The government takes over the surplus land, which in turn is allotted to the landless poor.
“There is also a provision to allot the land for industrial purposes, but it can only be leased out. There is no provision for outright sale of land,” a senior official of the revenue department said.
The Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, however, has decided to amend the Act to facilitate sale of agricultural surplus land for industrial purposes. The decision was taken as promoters of Krishnapatnam Port complained to the Chief Minister that banks refused to lend money for the construction of the port, which will be built on leased property. The port was allotted 35 acres of agricultural surplus land.
The government issued an Ordinance stating that such land could be utilised or sold for infrastructure, industrial development or any such public purpose.
The other Bill pertains to permitting addition of 25 per cent weightage marks to intermediate marks to determine the rank in Eamcet, the common entrance test for admission into engineering and medicine. As per the AP Educational Institutions (Regulation and Admission and Prohibition of Capitation Fee) Act, 1983, admissions were based on ranks in the Eamcet. The rules will come into force with retrospective effect from January 1, 2004.