The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet, led by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, gave its approval for the construction of 47,000 houses for the poor in Amaravati. The decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, and a bhoomi puja (groundbreaking ceremony) has been scheduled for July 24.
The houses will be built on 1,366 acres of land in the R-5 zone of the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA), with an estimated expenditure of Rs 5,000 crore.
In March this year, the state government declared a new zone R-5 in Amravati to provide houses to underprivileged people over 900 acres of land.
This area was initially designated for industrial, commercial, and other purposes according to the master plan for the Amaravati capital area. However, this decision drew opposition from the Amaravati farmers' Joint Action Committee (JAC), which challenged the move in the High Court, citing concerns about the status of the capital region and potential impacts on their interests.
On May 5, the High Court declined to issue interim orders to halt the government's decision, and subsequently, the Supreme Court also rejected a stay on the High Court's order. However, the apex court ruled that the rights of the house site beneficiaries would be subject to the final judgement of the Andhra Pradesh High Court.
To support the housing initiative, Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy formally launched the distribution of house site pattas (land ownership documents) to the underprivileged on May 26. The programme was inaugurated in the R-5 zone, which encompasses Guntur and NTR districts.
Recently, on July 11, the Andhra Pradesh High Court referred the case pertaining to the allotment of house sites in the R-5 zone to a three-member bench. The hearing has been adjourned until July 17.
In relation to assigned lands and low-lying areas, the State Cabinet has decided to grant full rights to all original assigned landowners who have possessed the land for a period of 20 years. In the event of the original beneficiaries' demise, their legal heirs will inherit the full rights. This decision will benefit 66,111 individuals who currently control 63,191.84 acres of assigned lands.
Additionally, the Cabinet has approved the construction of burial grounds for Scheduled Castes (SCs) in 1966 revenue villages. Moreover, the Cabinet has decided to remove Inam lands from the prohibited list of Section 22-A, benefiting 1,13,000 beneficiaries. Furthermore, loans given to Dalits for the purchase of 16,213 acres of land under the Land Purchase Scheme before the state's bifurcation will be waived.
The Cabinet also gave approval for all temple Arachakas to continue in the profession as long as they can work without retirement.