In a major move to protect public and private lands, the Andhra Pradesh state cabinet has approved a stringent new law that will punish land grabbers with up to 14 years in prison. The law also imposes heavy fines equal to the land’s value plus compensation.
The new legislation replaces the outdated 1982 Land Encroachment Prevention Act and extends protection to both city and village areas. Special courts will be set up to handle these cases quickly, marking a significant upgrade from the old law which only covered urban areas and had lighter penalties of 5 years jail time and Rs 5,000 fines.
Along with the land protection law, the cabinet announced several groundbreaking policies aimed at boosting technology and industry in the state. Kurnool will become Andhra Pradesh’s drone manufacturing hub, with planned investments of Rs 1,000 crore. This initiative is expected to generate Rs 3,000 crore in revenue and create 40,000 jobs, including positions at new drone pilot training centers.
The state is also making a bold push into the digital economy with its Data Center Policy 4.0. This ambitious plan aims to establish 200 MW data centers by 2024-29, positioning Andhra Pradesh as a major tech hub. Complementing this digital drive, a new semiconductor manufacturing policy offers attractive 30% state subsidies, adding to the central government’s 50% support, to compete with established tech states like Gujarat, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.
In a significant administrative move, the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) has expanded its reach to 8,352.69 square kilometers. This expansion incorporates Sattenapalli Municipality and brings 154 villages from Palnadu and Bapatla districts under its development umbrella. The cabinet also approved construction of the 189-kilometer Amaravati Outer Ring Road.
The government is addressing education financing by reverting to direct payment of fee reimbursements to college accounts, a system that proved effective during 2014-19. Healthcare services will see improvement with the upgrade of Pithapuram’s community health center to a 100-bed regional hospital, supported by 66 new staff positions.
In a move to clear pending dues, the cabinet approved Rs 331 crore payment for completed MGNREGA works, providing relief to small contractors who faced financial hardship due to delayed payments. The government is also considering adding 12% interest to these payments as required by law.
These comprehensive decisions reflect Andhra Pradesh’s commitment to protecting land rights while pushing forward with industrial development and infrastructure expansion. The new policies are expected to significantly impact the state’s economic growth and development landscape.
-Sanyogita
