AP: Thousands of acres of land mired in legal controversies

ANANTAPUR: While the government is struggling to acquire lands for new projects, thousands of acres of land acquired during the tenure of the previous government are now in a legal tussle. At least 10 thousand acres of valuable lands of Lepakshi Knowledge Hub, located closer to Bengaluru city are lying unused following legal dispute. The investors pledged the lands to the banks and obtained loans but failed to establish developmental activities at the proposed Lepakshi Knowledge Hub lands.

Lepakshi Hub was amongst the listed controversial land scandals in the state. Several farmers had begun farming in the lands due to legal hurdles. Similarly, 10 thousand acres of Brahmani Steels land was almost deserted following legal issues. The state government had officially taken back the lands one year ago after mining baron Gali Janardhana Reddy’s Brahmani Steels was unable to complete the factory within the stipulated time. The Kadapa based Steel Unit Sadhana Samithi led by Mr Praveen Kumar Reddy had continuously staged protests demanding the state and centre’s intervention to initiate steps to start the steel factory in Kadapa district. In Hindupur Industrial Estate, many ancillary units were facing a crisis and few of them were closed following poor facilities.