High Court Raps AP Government On Land Acquisition

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh government received a rap from the 'High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad' on Thursday for land acquisition on the Poranki-Machilipatnam route for construction of highway.

The state government began land acquisition on the said route without providing adequate compensation to the land owners. It is acquiring the land on the behalf of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). About 72 land owners filed a petition in the Court stating that their land was acquired in 2009 and till date no compensation was provided. "On the contrary demolition and construction activities are picking-up pace on the acquired land," the petitioners said. They are demanding compensation as per the current market value of the lands and in accordance with the 2013 Land Acquisition Act.

The Court passed interim orders stating that no construction activities should be taken up on the acquired land untill further directions. It has also directed the NHAI and the AP government to submit all records pertaining to the land acquisition before September 5, the date of the next hearing in the case.