Visakhapatnam: Despite criticism Vuda had mooted a proposal to pool land again in various parts of the district for development. Vuda has decided to pool around 365 acres of land at around three locations in Vizag.
Vuda is deriving an economic model on developing these lands that would benefit both Vuda and the farmers. Around 50 percent of land will go away in creating infrastructure facilities in the pooling. Earlier a similar land pooling scheme turned into a major scam in the history of Vuda.
Vuda Board had recently approved the land pooling and development proposal. Interestingly the proposal has been forwarded by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) to the Vuda to pool land and develop.
Visakhapatnam district — Anandapuram, Pendurthi and Visakhapatnam (Rural) mandals — Dabbanda and Gidijala, SR Puram and Kommadi villages — lands of private land holders and assignees proposals for procurement of lands for development by Vuda — received from the Hon’ble Chief Ministers Peshi, detailed note, submitted - Reg. The Board resolved to follow the land pooling guidelines issued by the Government for undertaking development under land pooling scheme. The Board also advised VC, VUDA to come up with a clear cut development plan for the area before proceeding further,” the proposal regarding the land pooling was made in the last Vuda board meeting.
In connivance with some Vuda senior officials and private persons, crores of worth plots were allotted to benami participants of Vuda land pooling project in Paradesipalem and also in some other layouts developed by Vuda to the fake land losers of the urban development body's earlier projects, in the past.
A probe by vigilance and enforcement department also confirmed the land scam. Majority of cases were related to land pooling project.
In an another land pooling scheme mooted in 2010 in Anakapalle while the initial plan was to develop a layout in an extent of around 97 acres, after almost 13 owners of land to an extent of an approximate 30 acres, did not show interest in the land pooling, Vuda decided to downsize the layout to 54 acres and recently issued a fresh notification in this regard.
