As the AP government is facing opposition from large number of farmers towards its proposed second phase of land pooling process, undertaken as part of the expansion of the capital Amaravati, efforts are going on to bring back Cherukuri Sridhar as Guntur collector, due to his immense experience in convincing farmers.
Officials are already completing the gram sabhas under the auspices of CRDA. Although farmers in villages in Pedakurapadu constituency have agreed to pooling with minor objections, people in villages in Tadikonda mandal are opposing it. In this context, the government has decided to bring previously experienced officers into the CRDA districts so that land consolidation can proceed without any obstacles.
It has decided that 50 Special Grade Deputy Collectors (SDCs) are required in addition to the top officers, and 30 are urgently needed. They will act as competent authorities during pooling. First, it is reported that Chennakeshavulu, who had extensive experience as the Director of the Land Administration Department of CRDA, will be brought back as the Director.
He is already playing a key role in the activities related to the pooling process in CRDA. At the same time, there are reports that Cherukuri Sridhar, who had expedited the pooling process in Amaravati as the Joint Collector of Guntur District in 2014, is likely to be appointed as the Guntur District Collector this time. It is learnt that negotiations have already been completed with him. Sridhar is currently serving as the Collector of YSR Kadapa District.
Chennakeshavulu has fully supported him as the Director of Land Administration. It is learnt that the government has decided to bring Sridhar back under the purview of CRDA due to his previous work, his ability to convince farmers whether they want to or not, and his experience as the R&R Commissioner.
Since all decisions related to land administration have to be made from the district itself, it is expected that the process can be expedited by appointing him as the Collector. If this is not possible, it is learnt that he may be appointed as the Urban Development Commissioner. Overall, the government has prepared an action plan to involve all the officials who played a key role during the last pooling process in the second phase of pooling.
