Chaos at GVMC council over GITAM land regularization

 Visakhapatnam: A council meeting of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation on Friday turned chaotic as the opposition parties protested against the regularisation of government land near GITAM University.

The meeting, chaired by mayor Peela Srinivas Rao, had 15 agenda items, with the contentious issue of regularising 54.79 acres of land that was listed last. Despite objections from YSRC and left-wing corporators, the mayor read through all the items in 15 minutes and declared them approved without any discussion.

The opposition alleged that chief minister Chandababu Naidu’s family was involved in the deal.

Adding to the controversy, the mayor barred media representatives from entering the GVMC council meeting, sparking protests from the opposition corporators.

Prior to the meeting, YSRC members protested at the Gandhi statue opposite the GVMC building, demanding that the government reclaim the lands allegedly encroached upon by GITAM University.

Once inside the council hall, they continued their protest, staging a sit-in near the mayor’s podium and raising slogans such as “Stop the GITAM land grab!”

They demanded the cancellation of the land allocation and called for the arrest of MP Sribharat, accusing him of involvement in the land transfer.

Botsa Satyanarayana, leader of opposition in the legislative council, alleged that the land regularisation was orchestrated by members of chief minister Chandrababu’s family.

Despite the uproar, the mayor went ahead with the approvals, including the regularisation of the disputed lands in Rushikonda and Yendada.

Officials said rural tahsildar Paul Kiran had submitted proposals to the GVMC to facilitate the transfer.

Some 54 corporators from the NDA coalition attended the meeting, along with ex-officio members MLAs Velagapudi Ramakrishna, VK Srinivas Yadav, and TD state president Palla Srinivas Rao, ensuring a quorum for the proceedings.

Palla stated, “Giving 54.79 acres of land to an educational institute is a good decision.”

After declaring all items approved, mayor Rao left the chamber. The opposition corporators continued their protests for more time.

Outside the GVMC headquarters, left-wing leaders intensified their agitation, demanding that the regularisation be scrapped and the lands be reclaimed. CPIM state executive committee member K Lokanatham, CPI district secretary SK Rehman and other leaders accused MP Sribharat of encroaching on government property worth nearly ` 5,000 crore.

They questioned whether elected representatives were undermining democratic freedoms by supporting such land allocations.

The protests escalated as activists attempted to storm the GVMC office gates, leading to a tense standoff with the police. A heavy police presence was evident to control the situation. There was a brief scuffle between cops and the demonstrators.