GITAM University Land Deal Sparks Row: TDP MP Defends Regularisation Process

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A controversy has erupted in Andhra Pradesh over the regularisation of 54.79 acres of land allegedly encroached upon by GITAM University in Visakhapatnam. Telugu Desam Party (TDP) lawmaker Mathukumilli Sribharat, who is also the university chairman, has defended the process, stating that the institution will pay the price fixed by the government. Sribharat's statement comes amidst strong criticism from opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, who accused Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu of handing the land to his family member. Reddy alleged that the land was recovered and fenced during the previous YSRCP regime but was now being gifted to Naidu's family member free of cost. Sribharat, son-in-law of actor and TDP legislator Nandamuri Balakrishna, claimed that the land price mentioned by YSRCP leaders was grossly exaggerated. He said that about 35 acres of the land was originally part of the Rajiv Swagruha housing project, intended for affordable housing. During the YSRCP government's tenure, the land use was changed, and it was subdivided and auctioned. The TDP MP alleged that the then YSRCP government had allotted around 11 acres of land to an international school at a low price, questioning why the land was valued at ₹100 crore per acre in this case. Sribharat refuted the allegation that the land was being regularised free of cost, stating that the process was still under government scrutiny. Social activist VV Ramana Murthy said that regularising encroached government land is illegal and that the GVMC does not have authority to legitimise long-standing encroachments. Former Union energy secretary EAS Sarma has sought a detailed probe by central agencies, citing the possibility of large-scale irregularities in the handling of valuable public land. The controversy has sparked a heated debate, with Sribharat's party defending the regularisation process and opposition parties questioning the land deal. The final decision on the land price and regularisation process remains pending, subject to government scrutiny and potential legal challenges.