Farmers' lands should get market rates: Naidu

Telugu Desam Party president and leader of the opposition in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, N Chandrababu Naidu, demanded that the state government pay market rate to the farmers if their lands were acquired for any project or for the purpose of setting up special economic zones (SEZs).

Initiating a debate in the Assembly on motion of thanks to the Governor's address on Tuesday, Naidu accused the Congress government in the state of making mockery of SEZs by turning them into "money-spinning ventures for real estate dealers".

He said that it would be better if the task of land acquisition was entrusted to the private parties who wanted to set up industries.