Opposing the proposals to hand over civic body’s land to private players, activists of the CPI(M), led by its State secretariat member Ch. Babu Rao, staged a protest at the office of VMC on Thursday.
Mr. Babu Rao said the Telugu Desam Party government was trying to privatise the properties of the civic body in the name of development.
They raised slogans such as “Save Vijayawada” seeking cancellation of various projects like City Square for which tens of acres of public land is to be handed over to the private firms.
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Resignation demanded
“It is time elected representatives reacted to the issue and saved the public properties from going into hands of private firms.
Plans are afoot to handover Swarajya Maidan, VMC office, council and several other properties to private persons in the name of development,” Mr. Rao alleged and demanded the resignation of the Mayor. Mr. Rao called upon the public to come under one platform and fight for the public properties that must be available for public use.
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‘Biggest scam’
“In all, the civic body is set to give away land spread over 49 acres and worth ₹3,528 crore to corporate firms. This is the biggest scam in the city and people should revolt against it,” he said.
The protesters listed out all the properties that include Swarjya Maidan (20 acres), State guest house and DGP office (6 acres), electricity substations (2.27 acres), Municipal office (3.22 acres), Rajiv Gandhi Park (9.01 acres), police quarters (2.9 acres) and wholesale vegetable and flower market (5.54 acres) that are allegedly being privatised in the name of tourism.
They also alleged that Municipal Guest house and other commercial spaces of the civic body worth over ₹246 crore are on sale. CPI(M) city secretary D. Vishnuvardhan and others were present.