Visakhapatnam Port Trust acquisition of Kotaveedhi land in 'abeyance'

2013-07-08

The Visakhapatnam Port Trust's (VPT) efforts to acquire 42 acres land at Kotaveedhi and neighbouring areas between the Outer Harbour and Inner Harbour in the One Town area have hit a roadblock as the VPT board of trustees have decided to keep the matter in 'abeyance' following several issues surrounding the controversial move.

Furthermore, sources said that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has "accessed" files related to the proposed acquisition process of the land in Kotaveedhi and adjoining areas by VPT as the latter had formed a four-man committee to initiate the land acquisition process without following the due procedures. A senior official admitted that there were "certain procedural lapses" in the acquisition process, but refused to divulge other details.

Sources said that an extent of 102 acres exists between the Outer Harbour and Inner Harbour, of which approximately 60 acres is under the possession of VPT and the remaining area of around 42 acres is occupied by residential buildings, places of worship, school buildings, play grounds and commercial complexes. According to informed sources, the VPT Trust Board in its meeting held on August 8, 2009, had resolved to approve the proposal for acquisition of land at Kotaveedhi by rehabilitating those losing their lands in Port lands in other suitable areas as per applicable or negotiated rates, subject to approval of the government under Section 32(1) of the Major Port Trusts (MPT) Act 1963. The board had also resolved to meet the financial liabilities arising from this acquisition out of Capital Plan Schemes. VPT had proposed the acquisition of the 42 acres to develop infrastructure and operational facilities for augmenting cargo-handling facilities.

However, an audit note dated November 10, 2012, by the Port audit department stated that "The said section of MPT Act does not permit the VPT to acquire land directly from private parties either on land-to-land exchange basis or otherwise."

Questioning the acquisition, advocate M A Rasool, president, Kotaveedhi Residents Welfare Association, said that VPT eventually wants to be a landlord port and if that is the case then how can it acquire land for private parties. He said that the port tried to acquire a few areas, but has not been successful. Also mentioning that people were not willing to move out of the Old Town Area, he said, "VPT should not keep troubling Kotaveedhi residents as we are already suffering from mental agony."

Meanwhile, residents of Kotaveedhi are vexed with the continuous issue of acquisition hounding them. Speaking to STOI, Hajee Aboosarang mosque president Mohammed Ali Khan said, "How can we let go of our land, where we have lived for hundreds of years? More than 90% of the people don't want to move from here."

"The lives of the members of all communities are associated with the area. You have schools and mosques, which are more than a century old. Aren't they deemed to be heritage structures?" he queried.

Source from : TNN

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