Former bureaucrat questions Andhra Pradesh government’s decision to allot land to TCS at 99 paise per acre in Visakhapatnam

Former bureaucrat questions government's decision to allot land to TCS at low rate, demands re-evaluation and transparency in agreement.

Former bureaucrat E.A.S. Sarma, in a letter to the State Chief Secretary K. Vijayanand on Thursday (April 17), said that the value of the land allotted to Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) should have been more than ₹320 crore as per the government rate. In that case, how was such a huge and valued land allotted to TCS at 99 paise per acre?, he questioned.

He demanded that the government reconsider the land valuation and withdraw its decision.

As per G.O.Ms 571 dated September 14, 2012, the State government should not allot government land to private companies. The annual lease value should not be less than 10% of the market rate. Moreover, the lease agreement should be renewed every three years. But, in the case of allotment of land to TCS, he felt that the government did not follow the G.O.

Mr. Sarma asked the Chief Secretary to disclose the agreement between the government and TCS, especially the agreement on employment opportunities for local youth. He said that in the past, companies had taken government lands at low prices but did not provide employment to locals.