Call to demarcate public utility sites

Vizianagaram: Commissioner of Land Administration (Appeals) Ellappa on Thursday directed the officials to demarcate the boundaries for the sites allocated for the use of villagers. He participated in the revnue sadassu organised at Chinatadivada village of Denkada mandal in the district on Thursday. On this occasion he responded to the complaints of the villagers to stop the forcible acquisition of burial sites, rivers and other sites meant for public utility. He instructed Survey and Lands deputy director Kumar, to demarcate these sites and also asked the villagers to be alert towards illegal occupations. The commissioner made it clear that it is impossible to regularise such sites to the occupants, even though they may be cultivating it for many years. He enquired about the revenue from the lands belonging to Endowment department. The commissioner said that Village Revenue Officers (VROs) should indentify government buildings and set up offices there. The office of VROs should not be set up in private buildings but if the situation demands, the permission of the government should be sought. He inspected the panchayat building and said that the opportunities for setting up the office of the local VRO should be examined and action should be taken. Joint Collector PA Shobha said that when the land owners lose their pass books and title deeds, to obtain a duplicate passbook they should lodge a complaint with the police and should obtain a non-trust certificate and should attach them with the complaint. They should also attach a no-debt certificate stating that they did not obtain any loan from the area bank. Explaining about the Tenancy Act, the joint collector said that while Loan Eligibility Cards (LECs) were distributed to 17,000 villagers last year, only 5,000 have obtained loans. A She made it clear that the tenant farmer would get loans only on the crop and not on the land. The farmers should not be misled in this regard, she said, adding that the owners have a right over the land. She also discussed the solutions to the problems faced last year and said that LECs would be awarded to those who have applied for them, by April end. A Later, the Commissioner examined the lake in the village said that it should have boundaries. Learning that 96 acres of land are being irrigated under the lake, he said that employment should be provided to 519 who have employment cards under NGRES to take up development works at the lake. A He told the villagers not to occupy river beds as they provide irrigation to various projects. Specila Deputy Collector Srilatha, Survey and Land executive officer Kumar, Tahsildar of Denkada Mandal Ramakrishna Rao, MPDO, IKP, Dwama Forests, Endowment and other department representatives participated.