Hyderabad: The AP Assembly on Monday passed six bills, including AP Forest Act amendment bill. Participating in the discussion on Forest Act amendment bill, YSRC members Adimulam Suresh and Budda Rajasekhar Reddy opposed the Section which said that all forest offences will be made cognizable and non-bailable. They said that officers will harass the people under this Section.
Mr Rajasekhar Reddy said that the many farmers in Srisailam forest area are depending on cultivation in the forest. He said some pilgrims came to Srisailam by wa-lking through the Srisai-lam forest. Forest officials don't like villagers giving water to pilgrims. He said after this Act, officials may book non-bailable cases against those offering water.
Supporting the YRSC member’s objections, BJP floor leader P. Vishnu Kumar Raju asked the government what protection is being given to common people under this Section.
Another BJP member Akula Satyana-rayana said, “Forest offences should be cognizable and non-bailable. I don’t understand the objections raised by YSRC members. They must clarify what are the grave offences and what are the small offences." He asked the government not to compromise on this issue.
Participating in the discussion on AP Intermediate Education amendment bill YSRC member P. Sunil Kumar said that there are many schools in AP having no proper facilities. He said even in the Kuppam Assembly constituency, represented by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu since 30 years, schools have no facilities. When minister Palle Raghunatha Reddy denied the allegations, the YSRC member said if he is given 30 minutes he will prove that about 40 schools in Kuppam constituency have no proper facilities.
The other bills passed by the Assembly are Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University amendment bill, AP Electricity Act amendment bill, AP Rights in land and pattadar pass books act amendment bill and AP Public libraries act amendment bill.
