District officials have finally cleared the hurdles for setting up the new collector office complex.
The foundation for the office was supposed to be laid on October 11, coinciding with the first anniversary of the district’s formation. However, it had been delayed following objections from locals occupying the designated part of government land and acquisition problems with private land.
The proposed 32-acre plot on survey number 255 on the town outskirts is cultivated by local people, who have raised huts and named it Saalar Thanda. They refused to vacate the land, contending that they have been living there for long and also claimed to have passbooks for the land they were ploughing. The officials maintained that only about 10-15 acres were assigned to them and the rest belonged to the government. The locals, however, chose protest path, obstructing the works taken up for the construction of the complex. With the help of Opposition parties, they also removed boards put up by the officials. District Collector Preeti Meena brought the issue to the State government’s notice and it was decided to release ₹3 crore as compensation to the people and acquire the land in question. About ₹6 lakh would be paid per acre near the main road and ₹3 lakh for every acre of interior land. Another 3.3 acres of patta land is proposed to be acquired.
The final gazette notification would be released after receiving objections. The process is likely to take about two months during which standing crops would be harvested.
Joint Collector K. Damodar Reddy said the comprehensive office complex would come up on 35.3 acres.
