Visakhapatnam: The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to reclaim 15.17 acres of land allotted to Ramanaidu Studios in Visakhapatnam, citing violations of land-use regulations. The decision comes amid allegations that the land, originally granted for the development of the film industry, was instead repurposed for real estate ventures.
In 2002, during the tenure of former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, the government allocated 34.44 acres to Ramanaidu Studios for film-related activities. However, recent reports suggest that 15.17 acres of this land were converted into residential plots in violation of the agreement. In 2023, the studio management reportedly obtained permission from the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) to use the land for real estate development.
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TDP MLA Velagapudi Ramakrishna Babu challenged this move in the Supreme Court, arguing that the land was being used for commercial purposes instead of its intended objective. The Supreme Court ruled that land allotted for a specific purpose cannot be repurposed unlawfully, paving the way for government intervention.
Following the court’s directive, Revenue Department Principal Secretary R.P. Sisodia has instructed the Visakhapatnam District Collector to issue a show-cause notice to the management of Ramanaidu Studios. The government is now preparing to take further action to reclaim the land.