Raghavulu flays Govt for farmland conversions

The State Government is planning to raise Rs 5,000 crore by converting farmlands into non-agricultural purposes, alleged Communist Party of India (Marx) state secretary B V Raghavulu.

The CPM leader told newsmen on Saturday that the State Revenue authorities under Agriculture Land (Conversion for Non-agriculture Purpose) Act 2006 issued notices to owners of several residential plots to pay conversion fee, which created a controversy.  The party demanded withdrawal of the notices and asked the government to keep the Act in abeyance until it is amended, he pointed out.

The new Act had a penal provision of levying 50 per cent of conversion charge. The charge for conversion was fixed at 10 per cent of basic land. This cumulated up to 15 per cent of the basic land value.

The state government had set an unofficial target of earning Rs 5,000 crore as conversion charges and penal fee, he said.

The CPM would launch a stir at the district headquarters in the state till the government amends the Act, he said and added that despite promise, the government has failed to supply seven-hour free power to the farmers.