Hyderabad, March 25: The Legislative Council was adjourned on Thursday without transacting any business as the Opposition remained steadfast on its demand for constituting a Joint Legislature Committee to examine the allotment of land to private individuals for setting up industries and verify their utilisation.
Leader of Opposition Dadi Veerabhadra Rao (TDP) tabled a notice of adjournment seeking a JLC. He said the indiscriminate allotments of land to some well-connected individuals were paving way for re-emergence of neo-zamindari system, making a mockery of democracy and adversely impacting the election process. He said the Supreme Court had observed that land could be taken back if it was not used for the purpose sought.
He rejected the suggestion of R & B Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao, Housing Minister Kanna Lakshminarayana and later that of Finance Minister Anam Ramanarayan Reddy that a discussion be allowed first on the land allocations.
As the stalemate continued between Opposition and the ruling party, Chairman A. Chakrapani adjourned the House.
When the House re-assembled the TDP leader said it was government responsibility to protect its properties and appointing JLC was the right step for it.
Discussions in the House did not serve any purpose as the government failed to act against land misuse by some companies/individuals such Brahmani steels, Hindujas etc.
When Mr.Paladugu Venkat Rao (Cong) said all indiscriminate land allotments made from 2002 onwards be discussed, Mr. Veerabhadra Rao responded that the government could include land allocations made right from 1956 under the terms of reference.
The Chairman adjourned the House for the day when members of the Opposition and the Congress began raising slogans.
-Agencies