Politicos sceptical of land reforms bill

Hyderabad: While welcoming the draft on Central Land Reforms, representatives from various political parties have expressed scepticism of its enactment and implementation. In a round table conference organised at Sundarayya Vignana Kendram, CPM State secretary B V Raghavulu felt that the idea was driven more with the focus on elections rather than with an urge to extend welfare to the people. “It would have been a revolutionary step, if the government is sincere in its efforts,” he said.

He said that there was a need to ensure social participation, rather than emphasising on social audit. CPI State secretariat member, Ramakrishna said that the draft has not recognised the plight of the tenant farmers. He said that most of the SEZs were ill motivated, with real intension of milking the real estate benefits or for getting loans from banks. Former Chief Secretary to State government, Kaki Madhava Rao demanded an ‘independent’ National Sample Survey and Social Audit for doing justice to all. M Kondanda Reddy, former Congress MLA welcoming the draft felt that he would arrange a meeting of farmer associations with Chief Minister for clearing apprehensions. N Vijaykumar, from TDP, emphasised the retrospective measures for benefit of larger sections of the society instead of helping out few companies in the name of progress.