Former MLC M.V.S. Sarma with social activist Rani Sarma at a public hearing organised by the Visakha Praja Vanarula Parirakshana Vedika’ to mobilise public opinion on the allotment of land to the LuLu Group, at Alluri Vignana Kendram, in Visakhapatnam on Monday.
| Photo Credit: V. RAJU
The Visakha Praja Vanarula Parirakshana Vedika on Monday (September 1) condemned the allotment of invaluable land near RK Beach to the LuLu Group for the construction of a mall. A public hearing was conducted by the vedika at the Alluri Vignana Kendram to elicit views of the public on the issue.
Addressing the gathering, social activist Rani Sarma, chairperson of the vedika, alleged that the government, which was supposed to be the custodian of public land in the State, was keen on handing it over to corporate groups. She said government land should be utilised for the benefit of the public, and sought the cancellation of the G.O. issued allotting land to the LuLu Group for construction of the mall.
She was seconded by former MLC M.V.S. Sarma and CPI senior leader Chalasani Raghavendra Rao, who also questioned why government allotted 13.94 acres along the sea coast in violation of CRZ regulations. They said there would be no land available for the needs of the people in future and demanded that the land be utilised for construction of a science museum instead.
Corporator A.J. Stalin, vedika convener C.N. Kshetrapal and representatives of civil society, student and Dalit organisations also demanded that the allotment of land to the LuLu Group be cancelled.
A unanimous resolution was adopted demanding that the land should be utilised for construction of a science museum.
Published – September 01, 2025 09:40 pm IST
