Kakinada:Massive protests have erupted against the allotment of 3.64 acres of land to SVS Infra company that's "owned" by former Pithapuram MLA, SVSN Varma, for its development and construction of a Taj Group hotel.
The land originally belonged to the Girls Polytechnic College and it was acquired for establishment of an Ayush Hospital during the 2014-19 Telugu Desam tenure. Though initially it was proposed for a Taj Hotel, perceptions now are that convention centres will be built at the educational institute premises.
Protests have erupted against the plan, including from the Telugu Desam, Jana Sena, BJP, CPI and CPIM.
Though the alliance government claimed that the land has been allotted as a part of tourism policy, the plan is said to be for erection of convention centres. Some critics said they had voted for the TD-led alliance to protect government lands, but the reverse is happening now. The chief minister should hold back the decision, they stressed.
At a recent meeting of MLAs with the CM, Kakinada parliamentarian Uday Srinivas and MLA Vanamadi Venkateswara Rao raised the issue. They noted that the site was allotted for construction of an Ayush Hospital and a sum of '88 lakh had been sanctioned for the purpose. But, they said, the Kakinada people opposed the present decision of the government to allot it to private firms.
Naidu explained that the government has already taken a decision and gave its nod to the firm.
Vice president of the JNTUK old students association Gatti Satyanarayana said this was an unfortunate decision. The government, he stressed, should withdraw the GO and cancel the allotment of GPT land to a private firm.
Rather than being a tourism promotion plan, this is an extension of a governmental favour to a politician, he alleged.
He said that it is difficult for a government to find land for a new educational institution. Land is scarce. "It is not good for the government to grab the government land and hand them over to private individuals or firms."
CPI leader T Madhu said the party would lead a massive movement against the land deal unless the government cancelled it. The Godavari districts' railway passengers association general secretary DN Ramesh said the government led down the people of Kakinada who voted for the 3-party alliance. The government should cancel the allotment of the site to the private firm and restore the land to the educational institution, he said.
Otherwise, he said, the government may face legal hurdles.