Activist demands cancellation of land allotted to Ramanaidu Film Studio

Visakhapatnam: Former IAS officer and social activist EAS Sarma on Tuesday expressed concern over attempts by some political party representatives in connivance with local officials to appropriate the land which was 'irregularly' allotted over 15 years ago to Ramanaidu Film Studio on a hill overlooking the Vizag-Bheemili Beach Road, close to Bavikonda Buddhist site and demanded the cancellation of the allotment.

In a representation to Chief Secretary KS Jawahar Reddy, said even at the time of the land allotment he had raised several objections citing the proposed studio's location on a hill, a natural feature that needed to be conserved and restored to its pristine condition, as laid down in the Master Plan of VUDA (now named VMRDA). The Master Plan is a statutory document that cannot be altered arbitrarily.

Even though it was prima facie illegal for the government to have given the land to Ramanaidu Studio, political favouritism prevailed and the government preferred to go ahead. Though the ostensible justification for giving the land to the studio was that it would promote the cine industry, it never fulfilled that purpose and, instead, the land was put to commercial use, he alleged. In the normal course, any responsible government would have revoked the land allotment and the land restored as a part of the hill. At least four acres come under CRZ area, he stated.

Sarma said quoting some reports that some influential political representatives have indulged in underhand dealings, in connivance with the local officials and have started converting the land into a layout for real estate deals and alleged that this exposed corruption at the highest level.