Andhra Pradesh government seeks to enhance land value around Vijayawada

HYDERABAD: As land rates shot up to incredulously in and around Vijayawada, the region which has been chosen as the new Andhra Pradesh capital, state government is seeking to enhance the book value of land to mop up additional revenue.

However, the government is yet to take a decision on enhancing the land value though the proposal is being seriously looked into, according to AP Deputy Chief Minister K E Krishna Murthy.

"We are planning to enhance the land value in and around Vijayawada in sync with the rising market value. The decision may come in two months," Murthy, who holds the Revenue portfolio, said in a press conference here today.

The hike in land value would be limited to Vijayawada and surrounding places and not other parts of the state, he added.

The government, however, has not imposed a ban on land registrations in Vijayawada region to keep a tab on the skyrocketing rates, he said.

"We are currently looking into the extent of land, both government and private, available in and around Vijayawada for the requirements of the new capital. We are eliciting public opinion on how to go about the land acquisition process for the new capital.

"A notification has already been issued and also a committee is looking into the issue. There will be some clarity on this after the committee submits its report," he said.

To a query why he was not made part of the cabinet sub-committee constituted to workout land pooling options for the new capital, Murthy said that he personally opted out of it.

His clarification came in the backdrop of reports that he was left sulking after the chief minister deliberately did not include the Deputy CM in the Cabinet Sub-Committee though he handles the crucial Revenue portfolio that controls all land issues.

"Everyone knows why I opted out of the committee," Murthy remarked.