AP Govt Takes Back Land Worth Rs 250-Cr From Vizag Co

Visakhapatnam: Acting with a lightning speed immediately after cancellation of allotment of a large parcel of land in the upmarket Yendada area of Visakhapatnam, the district administration has taken possession of the land in question and put up a board declaring that it belongs to the Revenue Department and trespassers

will be prosecuted.

Special Chief Secretary, Revenue, Revenue RP Sisodia, vide Memo No.REV01-LANA0MISC/946/2024,Date:10-03-2025 annulled the allotment of 12.51 acres to city-based realty firm Hayagreeva Firms and Developers for construction of cottages for the elderly and parentless children in 2008 on payment of Rs45 lakh per acre. The value of the land at present is estimated at over Rs.250 crore.

During the erstwhile YSRCP Government, TDP State president Palla Srinivasa Rao and Jana Sena corporator P Murthy Yadav had challenged the attempts to change the original purpose for which the land was allotted at a concessional rate and the subsequent permissions given to the developer to construct high-end villas. It has been alleged that the powers-that-be granted permissions despite objections raised by then District Collector Dr A Mallikarjun and the queries raised by the Public Accounts Committee of the State Legislative Assembly. The case later turned sub judice with the developer approaching the court for going ahead with

the construction.

In the memo issued on March 10, it was stated that "...after comprehensively taking all the facts, reports, explanation submitted by the firm, various orders from hon'ble High Court etc into account, it is hereby decided to cancel the allotment of land measuring Ac.12.51 Cts in Yendada Village in favour of M/s Hayagreeva Firms and Developers for violation of conditions of alienation."

The memo said accordingly, the government hereby directs the District Collector to take appropriate action under the provisions of G.O.Ms.No.57 Revenue (Assn.I) Department dated 16-02-2015, to resume the land measuring Ac.12.51 Cts in Yendada Village from M/s Hayagreeva Firms and Developers and to utilise it for public purposes. The CCLA (Chief Commissioner of Land Affairs & Spl.CS, AP/District Collector, Visakhapatnam shall take necessary action accordingly and submit the action taken report to the government without further loss of time, the order stated.

Asked to comment on the development, retired IAS officer and social activist EAS Sarma, told Bizz Buzz on Tuesday that Hyagreeva land case represents only the tip of the iceberg of land scams in Vizag. Of course, the government should take back the land and use it for a genuine public purpose.