On one hand, Andhra Pradesh is sinking deeper into debt day by day. On the other, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, his son and Minister Nara Lokesh, and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan are allegedly looting the state’s wealth worth hundreds and thousands of crores of rupees to benefit corporate companies. Even though such reckless decisions are being made in the Cabinet itself, Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan is merely watching the proceedings without uttering a single word. If land is given to reputed companies at concessional rates for IT sector development and job creation, there may not be much to object to. But granting hundreds of crores worth of land to pure real estate companies — which operate solely for commercial purposes — at prices cheaper than tea is leaving the public shocked. Even if the decisions are made in the Cabinet or taken as policy measures, they should have some rational justification. However, the decisions being made jointly by CM Chandrababu, Minister Lokesh, and Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan appear to be designed to benefit private firms while reaping hidden gains behind the scenes, according to allegations.
“If they had even a sense of responsibility, such decisions would never be made,” opined a senior IAS officer. The same government had recently allotted 30 acres in Madhurawada IT Hill, Visakhapatnam, to Satva Real Estate Company for IT and residential space development at a rate of ₹1.5 crore per acre. Now, it has issued orders allocating 27.10 acres in Madhurawada IT Hill No. 3 to Raheja Corp Real Estate Pvt. Ltd. for just 99 paise per acre. The government claims that this company will invest ₹2,172 crore and create 9,681 jobs. However, the market value of the land is not less than ₹40 crore per acre, meaning the government handed over land worth around ₹1,080 crore to a real estate company for merely 99 paise. Raheja is also permitted to develop residential space along with IT space. As if this wasn’t enough, the government itself has approved spending over ₹91 crore on roads, electricity, and other infrastructure to support this company. Additionally, under the IT and GCC policy, all relevant incentives will also apply to this firm, as mentioned in the government order (GO).
While the GO mentions that the project will create 9,681 jobs, it also states that the land allocation was recommended by SIPB based on a promise to generate 15,000 jobs. In other words, while the actual scope is 9,681 jobs, SIPB approved the allotment for 15,000 promised jobs at 99 paise per acre — a calculation that appears absurd. Moreover, there is no mechanism in the government to verify the actual number of jobs these companies — which receive land from the government — truly create. The government merely records the figures provided by the companies without any verification. In reality, whether the government is allotting land based on the companies’ real requirements or simply as per their demands is questionable — and in most cases, it seems the latter is true. Because in such deals, it’s not the state’s interests but the individuals’ interests that come first.