PaperDabba News Desk: 16 July 2024
Critical Decisions from the Andhra Pradesh Cabinet Meeting
The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, made several significant decisions on Tuesday at the state’s Secretariat in Amaravati.
Repeal of Andhra Pradesh Land Titling Act – 2022
The Cabinet approved repealing the Andhra Pradesh Land Titling Act—2022. The decision came after widespread concerns and fears expressed by the public were highlighted through various media outlets. The Land Titling Authority stated that the Act had been causing considerable anxiety among landowners.
Reasons for Repeal:
The Act allowed government officials without proper qualifications to hold significant positions, contrary to the recommendations of the NITI Aayog.
It eliminated the involvement of civil courts, requiring landowners to approach the High Court directly for disputes.
The current registration, revenue, and judicial systems would be significantly affected.
The Act was implemented hastily without the stakeholders’ opinions.
Landowners were given only xerox copies of registered documents, with the originals retained by the Titling Registration Officers (TROs), which caused fears about government control over properties.
It allowed TROs to issue General Powers of Attorney (GPAs) that could inconvenience landowners.
Local political pressures could influence registration and mutation processes.
Free Sand Policy Interim Mechanism
The Cabinet approved an interim mechanism for providing free sand to the public until the Free Sand Mechanism – 2024 establishment, ensuring no government revenue from sand distribution. The Sand and Mining Policies of 2019 and 2021 were annulled in favor of this interim policy.
Implementation Steps:
Existing agreements with relevant organizations were suspended.
The Mines and Geology Commissioner was directed to hand over sand stocks to concerned officials.
A comprehensive sand policy that considers user opinions and environmental sustainability will be developed.
Rs. 2000 Crore Loan for Paddy Procurement
The Cabinet approved a Rs. 2000 crore loan from commercial banks and financial institutions for the State Civil Supplies Corporation for paddy procurement for 2024-25. This decision follows the government’s commitment to clear pending dues of Rs. 1000 crore to farmers from the previous rabi season.
Working Capital Assistance of Rs. 3200 Crore for AP MARKFED
The Cabinet also approved a proposal to seek a Rs. 3200 crore loan from the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) as working capital assistance for the Andhra Pradesh Marketing Federation (MARKFED) for the 2024-25 paddy procurement process.
Other Notable Announcements
International Recognition for Natural Farming:
Andhra Pradesh received the prestigious Gulbenkian Prize for Natural Farming, akin to the Nobel Prize in agriculture. The prize includes a Rs. 9 crore reward. The state’s natural farming initiative started under Chandrababu Naidu in 2018 and will expand from 5 lakh to 20 lakh hectares by 2029.
These decisions reflect the Andhra Pradesh Cabinet’s commitment to addressing public concerns and promoting sustainable practices in agriculture and resource management.