Amid ongoing row over procurement of 33,000 acre of fertile agricultural land in Guntur district for capital construction, the State government decided to acquire another 12,000 acre on the other side of the Krishna river in Krishna district from farmers to develop tourist spots.

“So far, we have procured 33,000 acre from farmers in 29 villages of Guntur district. This land lies south of River Krishna. Now, we have decided to procure another 10,000 to 12,000 acre on the north side of the river,” Municipal Administration Minister P Narayana told reporters after the Cabinet meet here on Wednesday.

According to Narayana, the State government would utilise this land exclusively for the purpose of developing tourist spots along the 22-km bank of Krishna river in the capital. Land pooling exercise would commence here in a fortnight.

The entire land pooling exercise would be completed by May 15 in the capital city, he said. “Some farmers are still not ready to surrender their land for the capital.  The government will go for land acquisition after May 15 if the farmers do not surrender their land by that time,” he said.

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