The Comptroller and Auditor General of India in a special report faulted the Andhra Pradesh Government for land allotments made to corporate entities by flouting established norms and causing loss to the exchequer.
It recommended that the Government should have a well defined and transparent land use policy to address these issues and streamline the process of allotments.
In a report tabled in the State Legislative Assembly today, the CAG observed that the State Government alienated 88,492 acres of land to 1,027 beneficiaries during 2006-2011 without actually formulating a land policy.
Taking up about 409 cases for scrutiny, it observed that the State Government did not have the primary data which is essential for effective land administration.
In the absence of a comprehensive database on land — that indicates the location and utilisation of Government land as well as assigned land and resumed land — there needs to be a defined approach to tacking this.
The CAG found fault with the Government in allotments made to Brahmani Industries Ltd (3,115 acres) for setting up a commercial airport and flying academy in violation of Government policy. The other allotment of 10,760 acres to Brahmani for integrated steel unit involved alienation of 674 acres of water bodies.
The allotment of 8,844 acres of land by APIIC to Lepaakshi Knowledge Hub in Anantapur district and to Obulapuram Mining Company, VANPIC, K. Raheja IT park, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emaar Properties along with several other allotments were in violation of norms, it noted
The report also brought to the fore issues such as non-utilisation of land for allotted purpose, violation of environmental regulations and illegal encroachments. Land allocated to Aurobindo Pharma and Institute of Management Technology too was scrutinised by the CAG.