The CID naming IAS officer and former VUDA Vice-Chairman
and GVMC Commissioner V.N. Vishnu in its FIR, has brought into focus
again the unauthorised construction of an apartment complex at Sector II
of MVP Colony.

The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal
Corporation has issued building plan approval for construction of an
apartment complex in an area earmarked for community purpose. The GVMC
authorities contended that VUDA being a higher authority on the
proceedings (of allotment of land) given by it, building plan approvals
have been given.

The CBI probed the irregularities in
the allotment after a High Court direction. Mr. Vishnu who was
transferred from his position as Municipal Commissioner came and deposed
before the CBI. Subsequently, the investigation was taken over by the
CID. The Vigilance and Enforcement wing also probed the irregularities
in VUDA and submitted a report to the government.

Though
VUDA allotted the land, the ownership of the land could have been
verified by GVMC officials who prepared the proposals for approval of
building plan. It was learnt that Mr. Vishnu noted “approved” on the
file.

Files seized

All the files relating to allotment in Survey No 5p and 6p were seized by CBI and are now with the CID.

With
the investigation now also focussing on the role of GVMC employees,
mainly the City Planning Department, it is now expected that the actual
investigation will zero in on who signed on the papers at various stages
leading to the final approval by Mr. Vishnu. “Merely shifting the blame
to VUDA is not justified. It’s incumbent on the GVMC employees to
verify the ownership,” an official said.

VUDA had
stopped pension of two of its retired administrative officers and
suspended a senior assistant after irregularities came out.

Meanwhile,
the residents association has demanded that the land be restored to it
so that it could be used for community purpose.

MVP
Colony Residents’ Welfare Association general secretary P. Satya Kumar
demanded that the 4,114 square yards be restored to the association.
“All the 12 sectors of MVP Colony has one big kalyanamantapam, that of
the TTD. The space is meant to be used for public purpose like a play
ground or a park.

The entire process of illegally
allotting the land and the apartment complex coming up there has
deprived MVP Colony residents of land which should genuinely belong to
them,” said Mr. Kumar.

While the land was allotted at
a throwaway price of Rs.3,500 a square yard, each apartment was sold at
Rs.40 lakh, he alleged. Either the building should be razed or
alternate land given to us, he demanded. The construction of the
building raised up to five floors was stopped after the controversial
allotment.

However, the association vice-president P.S. Raju said none should be made to lose in the process.

People
have borrowed from banks and put in their hard-earned money in it to
buy apartments. VUDA and GVMC, both are under the State government and
had given all the permissions. It’s for the government to resolve the
issue, he said.