Debate over land allocation at ₹0.99 per acre to companies rocks A.P. Council

Reiterating that generating employment for youth is among the top priorities of the Andhra Pradesh government, IT and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh on Thursday asserted that land has been allotted at ₹0.99 per acre only to credible companies to attract investments and build an IT ecosystem in the State.

Replying to questions in the Legislative Council, Mr. Lokesh said five companies—TCS, Cognizant, ANSR Global, Raheja and Motherson International—were allotted land at the concessional rate, with a projected employment potential of 65,000 jobs.

“If I have taken even more than a cup of coffee from them, prove it and I am ready for any action,” he remarked, dismissing the corruption allegations. He maintained that allocations were cleared after scrutiny by the official committees, SIPB and Cabinet approval, and argued that such incentives were essential to compete with other States.

Mr. Lokesh said Visakhapatnam currently lacks Grade-A IT office space and the government aims to create 5 lakh IT jobs by 2029, generating substantial economic activity.

He cited Hyderabad’s growth under similar policies and Gujarat’s Tata Nano as examples of ecosystem-driven development.

However, the YSRCP leaders, including Council Opposition Leader Botcha Satyanarayana, Tummati Madhava Rao and Varudu Kalyani, alleged that valuable lands in Visakhapatnam were being handed over to private and real estate firms without transparency.

They questioned the allotment of 27.1 acres to Raheja and raised concerns over alleged proposals involving Ursa and other firms. Mr. Satyanarayana accused the government of favouring benamis and failing to follow norms, while demanding clearance of pending ‘Thalliki Vandanam’ dues before the Budget session concludes.

Amid the heated exchanges, the YSRCP members staged a walkout, as the Minister reiterated that the policy prioritises jobs over revenue and challenged the Opposition to substantiate its claims.