Negotiations for 144-acre Vepagunta land started by Visakhapatnam development body

A compensation amount of about Rs 33 lakh was deposited by The Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority (Vuda) in the court with regards to the 144-acre land in Vepagunta that has been entangled in legal disputes for several years now. Vuda vice chairman P Basanth Kumar informed that municipal administration and urban development minister P Narayana, during a recent review meeting in Visakhapatnam, had directed Vuda officials to take immediate action over the land. Basanth Kumar added “Vuda has acquired about 144 acres of land in Vepagunta in 1981 and 1982. Some ryots had then approached the court and the cases were later dismissed. A government order, released in 1990, stated that the compensation amount awarded to be apportioned between Inamdars, i.e. SimhachalamDevasthanam and the tenants in 1:2 ratio. Later, in another order in 2015, the state government declared the Devasthanam as the undisputed and rightful owner before the acquisition. Three writ petitions filed by the ryots are still pending in the court. Pendurthi MLA B Satyanarayana Murthy has agreed to assist Vuda in settling the issues with the farmers.”