Vijayawada: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has called for a full-fledged survey of Wakf lands across the state and to protect them besides establishing a Wakf tribunal in Kurnool.
Chairing a high-level meeting on minority welfare with deputy Chief Minister Amjad Basha and other senior officials here on Monday, Reddy said that the survey should be alongside Jagananna comprehensive land survey. He said a compound wall should be constructed around all such lands with home guards manning them.
Reddy asked officials to find out whether works like construction of compound walls around Wakf lands could be taken up under Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Guarantee Scheme the extent to which such lands could be utilised. The officials informed that nearly 500 acres of encroached Wakf lands had been recovered in the last two years.
The Chief Minister said that apart from a Wakf tribunal in Kurnool, there was an urgent need to construct new cemeteries for minority sections in the current fiscal. He urged officials to ensure payment of honorarium to imams, mouzans and pastors promptly. On being told that they had received fresh applications seeking honorarium, Reddy asked the officials to examine them and take necessary steps on merit. He also wanted to know if the sub-plan for minorities could be implemented as it can fetch more funds.
On the construction of buildings for schools and hostels for minority students, he called for taking up such works on a priority basis. He asked officials to submit a report on all pending issues with the department of minorities. He felt the need to help the students to avail of the facilities in the upcoming skill development centres to enhance their skills. He said there was a need to set up an Urdu university in Kurnool and also to ensure a better functioning of Urdu Academy.
With regard to vacant posts in the department of minorities, Reddy instructed officials to take a decision on filling up posts after meeting finance department officials. He gave the nod when officials proposed Haj houses in and around Vijayawada and Guntur, and said that they should expedite the process to set up Haj and Wakf committees.
The Chief Minister instructed officials to complete the construction of a Christian bhavan in Guntur, which was stakked after being initiated by the TD government.
