HYDERABAD, India, 13 December 2006 — Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy yesterday announced the surrender of 618 acres of surplus land under his possession to the government.
Speaking to newsmen in the assembly premises, Reddy said he has already surrendered the surplus land which was held by his family in excess of the holdings permitted under the AP Land Reforms (Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings) Act, 1973.
He said that he had written to district collector of his home district, Kadapa, expressing his willingness to surrender the excess land. The district revenue authorities have taken possession of the surrendered land, he added. Reddy, his wife and his two major children (a son and a daughter) possessed a total of 758 acres at Idupayalapalli estate in Vempally in their own names, apart from a private company. However, when he came to know that under the Land Reforms Act, he and his family were entitled not to hold this extent of land, he decided to surrender the excess land, covering 618 acres. The land is highly fertile and costs at least Rs two million per acre. The estate has orchards, teak plantations and other crops.
The act came into force from Jan. 1, 1975. The ceiling limit prescribed under the act ranges from 10 acres to 54 acres per family, depending upon the class and category of land.
