Stop acquiring public lands, use APIIC’s 44,000 acres first: CPI (M)

CPI(M) State Secretary criticizes APIIC's underutilised land bank and new labour codes, advocates for small-scale industries and workers' rights.

CPI(M) State Secretary V. Srinivasa Rao has urged the State government to halt the acquisition of people’‘s lands for industrial development. He pointed out the vast yet underutilised land bank held by the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) in the State.

In a telephonic conversation with The Hindu on May Day, Mr Rao said: “Although APIIC controls 1.44 lakh acres of land and has already allocated 1 lakh acres to various companies, even a decade later, many companies have failed to establish industries. The government should take back the lands from these companies and give them to new entrepreneurs. There is no justification for further acquiring public land when 44,000 acres are still available with the APIIC.”

He highlighted how many corporate companies acquired lands in Visakhapatnam under the pretext of creating employment opportunities, but failed to deliver on their promises, duping the government. He is of the opinion that the government should promote small-scale industries in a big way. He said: “It is the small-scale industries that can create significant employment in rural and semi-urban areas.”

He criticised the introduction of the new labour codes which replaced the earlier Labour Acts. He highlighted that the codes fail to safeguard the rights and welfare of workers across the country. He said: “The labour codes favour companies and interests of corporates. The workers have lost several benefits that they previously enjoyed.”