Andhra Pradesh Government considers a simplified regulatory framework for developing agricultural land

RP Sisodia, Special Chief Secretary, Income. |Picture source: File Photo

The NDA government in Andhra Pradesh has decided to abolish the 2006 “Conversion for Non-agricultural Purposes 2006”.

The move is intended to remove administrative barriers that have led to an increase in the number of unauthorized layouts across the state.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced the decision at a recent Collectors Conference in Amaravati.

“In line with the Andhra Pradesh Government’s policy to promote speed of doing business, the process of seeking conversion under the Agricultural Land Act of 2006 has been perceived as cumbersome and involving unnecessary procedure complexities. The prevailing administrative processes and the need for a more citizen-centric approach necessary simplification of the regulatory mechanisms,” RP Sisodia, Special Chief Secretary, Revenue, told Hindu Saturday.

Initially, the Andhra Pradesh Non-agricultural Land Assessment (NALA) was promulgated in 1963 to establish a legal framework for the expropriation of legal frameworks for the assessment of land not used for agricultural purposes. Later, it was abolished and the 2006 Agricultural Land (conversion for non-agricultural purposes) began.

However, with the passage of time and in the light of the present circumstances, it had been observed that the regulatory framework for land development, including development of agricultural land, was generally addressed by various local authorities and urban development authorities under their respective statistics, such as the Andhra Pradesh Metropolitan Region and Urban Development Authorities Act, 2016. “These Authorities are already empowered to regulate land use and levy development charges, leading to a redundancy under the 2006 Act,” he said.

“In addition, administrative indifference, the bureaucratic culture of armchairs in tax management and corruption has become a barrier to development, which is contrary to the philosophy of good governance,” he observed.

Taking into account the above situation, the Government believes that the AP Agricultural Land (Conversion by Non-agricultural Purpose) Act 2006 is no longer relevant or necessary, and its abolition is a key step in promoting good governance.

“This will avoid duplicate regulatory functions and promote a more efficient and simplified land development process within other existing legal frameworks,” Mr Sisodia noted.

Therefore, the Government will introduce a bill to repeal the 2006 Agricultural Land (transformation for non-agricultural purposes) whilst ensuring protection of actions taken and making certain temporary provisions for pending matters and unauthorized layouts.