Andhra Pradesh has earned a dubious distinction of handing over large tracts of public lands on a platter to big-ticket companies. While in opposition, the YSRCP had criticized Naidu’s government for its land allocations, solar policy and power pricing agreements. After coming to power, it scrapped the power purchase agreements drawing strong resentment from industry players and the Centre.
The Solar Park SEZ being planned by the Jagan Government might become the hotbed for controversies. The government is considering offering one acre of land at five rupees to prospective investors under a leased agreement for 25 years. Thus, the cost per acre comes to less than the price per unit generally charged for the commercial power connections in the State. Adding to this, the prospective investors in the Solar Park SEZ will be allowed to sell hybrid power generated from their units to anyone and anywhere. For this, the government is reportedly contemplating to pool up large tracts of lands for setting up 10,000 megawatts of Solar Parks.
However, it hit a roadblock as there is a bar for the Governments to acquire lands in such huge acreage. To circumvent the roadblock, the government and concerned industries are considering preparing Details Project Reports (DRP) for Solar Park SEZs. Fears are being expressed that this might lead to big companies entering into the fray and purchasing thousands of acres to create their own private land banks – all in the name of development.
During YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s tenure, thousands of acres along the coastal areas had been diverted to ‘Vanpic’ which blew into a major controversy. The land allocations were scrapped after the huge outcry. However, the damage had already been done to the State. Allocation of APIIC lands to industries landed several senior officials, politicians, including current CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy in legal trouble.
