Lets debate land deals

HYDERABAD:  The state government on Thursday said it was ready for a debate on the alleged transfer of 65 acres illegally to private persons in Hyderabad by the then collector Navin Mittal.TDP member Motkupalli Narasimhulu and CPI member K Sambasiva Rao raised the land allotment issue under special mention in the state Assembly on Thursday. Responding to this, speaker Nadendla Manohar asked the government to table a statement on the land allotment in Hyderabad. Responding to this, legislative affairs minister D Sridhar Babu said that the government would make a statement on this and it was ready for a debate on the issue whenever the Speaker allotted time. Raising the issue, Narasimhulu alleged that `2,030 crore worth government lands were given away to private persons by Navin Mittal and three RDOs. The then revenue minister Dharmana Prasada Rao too was responsible for the same, he alleged. He demanded a judicial probe into the matter. However, Sridhar Babu said that the government had already ordered a probe and it would take appropriate action once the report was available.Opposition leader N Chandrababu Naidu pointed out that the report was old. The present collector and CCLA also recommended cancellation of mutation of lands and wanted a thorough debate on the issue in the House. Naidu pointed out that it was a tip of the iceberg and there were several instances of government lands being given away illegally to private persons including Nadurgul lands.Sridhar Babu said a debate would be held in the Assembly session.