Friday, June 27, 2008

AP High Court okays Vizag land sale: Line clear for Unitech

By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad June 26: The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Thursday vacated a stay on the sale and allotment of land in the hillocks of Visakhapatnam and its surrounding areas.
This means that the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation is now be able to auction land in the area. The issue was in the court for two years.
The High court had earlier granted a stay on the alienation of hillock area to private parties following a petition filed by the Samata, a non government organisation.
The petitioner challenged the notification of the APIIC to auction hillocks around Visakhapatnam, especially in the Tarakarama satellite township area.
The petitioner contended that the hills cannot be alienated, disposed or leased in accordance with the government order GO Ms. No. 913 of 1987.
The stay order had halted mega township projects including the Integrated Vizag Knowledge City at Kapula Uppada village from commencing their work.
The state government issued a GO 228 in March superseding the earlier GO No 913. Unitech, one of India’s largest real estate developer, won a tender to develop a township in an areas measuring 1,750 acres at Visakhapatnam.
The petitioner also incorporated Unitech as one of the respondent. The court observed that the government had withdrawn its earlier orders of declaring the hillocks as open spaces.
The petition becomes outdated.

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