The Hindu : Front Page : Fourth phase of land distribution launched

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 20, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Front Page

Front Page

Fourth phase of land distribution launched

Special Correspondent

TIRUPATI: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy used Tirupati as the launch pad to put into motion the fourth phase of his government’s ‘bhoo pampini karyakramam’ (land distribution programme) amid fanfare on Saturday. At a programme organised at the SVU Stadium here, he distributed 15,314 acres to 10,852 beneficiaries.

Significantly, the programme was launched a day before the Left parties are to resume their ‘land struggle’. He wondered whether the Left or the TDP had ever seen anywhere else in the country lands being distributed to the landless on such a massive scale.

Revenue Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao said six lakh acres has been distributed in the State. He said the entire credit for the “achievement” must go to the Chief Minister.

Strident attack

Dr. Reddy launched a strident attack on the TDP and the Left parties for crying hoarse when his government was in fact implementing a range of “unique schemes” which no other State in India has even thought of.

He cited his government’s decision to treat agro-units like poultry, fisheries, sheep, cattle farming as small scale industries and provide the farmers loans at 0-25 paise interest. TDP president Chandrababu Naidu did nothing to improve the fate of the sectors, Dr. Reddy said. He criticised Mr. Naidu for the “dubious role” he played to “slow-poison” the Chittoor Co-Op Dairy so as to further the interest of his own dairy unit -- Heritage Foods.

Dr. Reddy exchanged documents with the NDDB authorities following the signing of an MoU between the Board and the government to pump fresh investments to the tune of Rs. 15 crore into Balaji Dairy, Tirupati, apart from Rs. 10 crore for its modernisation. Among other participants were District In-Charge Minister A. Ramanarayana Reddy, Ministers R. Chenga Reddy and G. Arunakumari, Chief Whip N. Kirankumar Reddy, Tirupati MP Chintha Mohan, MLA M. Venkatramana and Chittoor Collector S.S. Rawat.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page