No link with Singapore-based firm; Naidu wanted to grab land allotted to NCC: Botsa

Visakhapatnam: Municipal Minister Botsa Satyanarayana alleged that former chief minister and TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu wanted to grab 97 acres of land allotted to NCC near IT SEZ, Madhuravada.

He said Naidu ignored the cabinet and gave GPA to NCC for 97 acres of land three months before the general election in 2019.

Addressing a press conference in Visakhapatnam, the minister said the TDP workers should stage a dharna for the wrongs of their leader. The TDP workers protested near the site during the last two days alleging the YSRC leader entered into a shady deal with NCC.

Giving details of the case, Botsa Satyanaryana said he was the minister in the YS Rajasekhara Reddy government when the agreement was signed with NCC, the highest bidder to develop the land under the PPA model, on October 10, 2005.

As per the agreement, NCC was to give 16 percent of the developed area to the government. The company also paid Rs 93 crore for 97.3 acres of land. Land use was also agreed upon with the company in 2009.

He said Chandrababu Naidu gave GPA to NCC on March 13, 2019, despite the company pleading that the stamp duty was high. The cabinet suggested setting up a committee to study the plea, but Naidu ignored it and went ahead with the deal.

``When we wanted to cancel the GO after coming to power, NCC went to the high court and obtained a stay. We negotiated with the company and it paid the remaining balance of Rs 97 crore in 2020,'' the minister said.

When his attention was drawn to the allegation that a Singapore-based company allegedly floated by YSRC leaders has funded NCC to pay the remaining amount, the minister said the government has no business with any firm.