Andhra to recover damages from rioters

The state Cabinet, chaired by chief minister K Rosaiah, gave its nod to the Andhra Pradesh Public Property (Prevention of Damages and Recovery of Losses) Bill, 2009. This enables the government to recover damages on account of burning or damaging public property, both movable and immovable, belonging to the state government, public sector undertakings as well as local bodies.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has already given its consent to the proposed Bill, a senior cabinet minister said.

“A lot of damage is being caused to public properties, particularly State Road Transport Corporation buses, whenever there is an agitation or strike. APSRTC has been incurring heavy losses due to burning of buses during riots and other law and order situations,” the minister said.

The AP government decided to enact the specific legislation making provisions for recovery of losses as well as the central legislation, Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984, provided only for penal action.

The proposed Bill is expected to be tabled in the winter session of Assembly in December, the minister said.