VISAKHAPATNAM: Roads and Building Minister Ch Ayyanna Patrudu who went at the land scam in Vizag hammer and tongs was at it again on Tuesday. Revealing about the illegal acquisition of around 4 acres in his native Narsipatnam constituency, he alleged that the stretch worth around `4 crore donated to an ashram by a Samaritan was occupied illegally by his heirs and apartments had come up on the land.
On the sidelines of a development programme in Narsipatnam, the minister said that 15 cents of land was donated to Chidgagaananda Swamy Ashram atop the hill abutting Balighattam village near Narsipatnam town by Saragadam Appanna, a disciple of Sadguru Chidgagaananda Swamy. Saragadam Appanna from Pendurthi built the ashram in 1962 and donated 4 acres latter for its maintenance. Later, he mentioned this in his registered will in 1973.
“After 1998, the heirs of Appanna occupied the 4 acres in violation of law and have built apartments, shopping malls and commercial complexes,”the minister alleged.
He said that he had already lodged a complaint on this issue with the Special Investigation Team (SIT).
“The officials must take action to reclaim the ownership of the ashram on the land,” the minister said.
Meanwhile, the SIT has intensified the probe into the illegal issuing of NoCs by the former officers who held key posts in revenue department.
Having issued questionnaires to some former babus in this regard, the SIT is now consulting the advocates, seeking legal opinions. The SIT officials have found many lapses in the issuing of NoCs for the lands assigned to ex-servicemen and freedom fighters.