Panel recommends rates for regularising Andhra Pradesh lands

Hyderabad: The issue of regularisation of encroached government land in the rural and urban areas in the state has once again come into the hands of a group of ministers, a committee, headed by Deputy Chief Minister K.E. Krishnamurthy.

It has recommended regularising up to 500 sq yards and at different rates on the basis of the extent of land encroached, leaving it to the government to regularise up to 1,000 sq yards. The Cabinet decided to refer this matter to the committee which will study the implementation process.

While some have encroached on government land, others have constructed buildings and houses and have, since long, been demanding that the government regularise the land by collecting a fee.

The committee has recommended that the government regularise the encroached area free of cost up to 100 sq yards; that it should collect 60 per cent of the market value for land measuring between 101 sq yards and 150 sq yards; 75 per cent of the market value for areas measuring between 151 to 250 sq yards; and charge 100 per cent market value for land extending from 251 to 500 sq yards.

The encroachers should be given 90 days’ time to apply for regularisation after the issue of the government’s notification. If the members of a family encroached on more than one area, then the government should regularise one of them and take over the remainder.

The committee left the decision to the government to take on regularisation of land, measuring from 501 to 1,000 sq yards, and, at the same time, recommended that the government take over the land from those who occupied more than 500 sq yards and those occupying areas less than 500 sq yards in size if they did not apply for regularisation within the stipulated period.