Andhra Pradesh drafts new land allotment policy

Proposes allotment at market price except in cases where land is to be used for non-profit public purpose

Published on:

17 Oct 2011, 1:34 pm

Faced with strong criticism over indiscriminate allotment of land to industries and other projects in the past few years, the Andhra Pradesh government has changed its land allotment policy. The draft policy, prepared by the state revenue department, underscores the need for “scientific and judicious allotment of government land”. The draft been circulated to all political parties for comments. Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy is going to hold an all-party meeting in a few days to finalise the policy.

The draft of the Andhra Pradesh Land Allotment Policy of 2011 notes that at present there are no uniform guidelines on how much land is to be allotted for different sectors like industries, information and technology, housing and education, and the cost to be charged for the allotted land. Further, there is no mechanism at present to effectively monitor whether the land is utilised within the prescribed time and for the purpose it was allotted. In recent years, the government has mobilised resources either through sales or through auction of government lands, observes the draft.

Policy provides for post-allotment monitoring

Single window clearance system for all land allotments
A new body—the Andhra Pradesh Land Management Authority (APLMA)—will be formed to oversee allotment of land for different uses and formulation of a mechanism for enforcing environmental and zonal regulations
For the first time, a mechanism to monitor land post allocation has been proposed
All allotments, except those for non-profit public purposes, shall be on market value recommended by the district collector and a nine-member empowered committee headed by chief commissioner of land administration
The market value will be fixed according to the guidelines and rules of land acquisition The land allotments already made shall be reviewed by the APLMA

'Policy will curb allotment of excess land'

Will it help the displaced?

Andhra Pradesh