After a revenue department probe confirmed land grabbing charges, some parts of the building of Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management (GITAM), a deemed University based in Visakhapatnam, was demolished on Saturday. The action resulted in trading of charges between TDP and the ruling YSR Congress Party.
Revenue officials, accompanied by a demolition squad and a large contingent of police, undertook the demolition of the main gate, a portion of the compound wall and a portion of fencing of the playground at GITAM Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (GIMSR), stating that they were built on encroached government land.
The revenue officials said, “There are some buildings also on the encroached land of 40 acres. They will be demolished later. “
However, the Andhra Pradesh High Court on Saturday night restrained the Visakhapatnam district administration from going ahead with the demolition of the structures and ordered the government to not take any action in this regard up to 30th November.
The opposition TDP has raised strong objections over the demolition of GITAM university walls and some structures.
N. Chandrababu Naidu said the government of Andhra Pradesh could not construct any structure rather demolishing it.
His son Nara Lokesh also objected to it. TDP leader Kala Venkata Rao stated, “This is the most destructive governance I have ever seen in decades of my political career. The government instead of taking up relief and rehabilitation works in flood-affected districts of the state is indulging in destructive politics. GITAM University is renowned for imparting standard and quality education. The university has been demolished without following proper norms.”
The government and ruling YSRCP reacted strongly over the allegations of opposition. The YSRCP parliamentary party leader Vijay Sai Reddy in his reaction on social media said that an auspicious time is not required to reclaim the encroached government land.
Anakapalle MLA of YSRCP Gudivada Amarnath gave a strong reaction to TDP. “What the government has done in case of GITAM University lands was the recovery of encroached lands worth Rs 800 crore. The University is in illegal possession of over 40 acres of government land. What is wrong in taking back the government land. if it is proved that the confiscation of occupied property is illegal, the government would not hesitate to tender an apology.”
Andhra Pradesh Minister for Tourism Muttamsetti Srinivas stated that the GITAM University was not a charity organisation, which in turn charges exorbitant fees from the students without even following the rule of reservation and the government seized the encroached lands as per the stipulated guidelines.
