Amaravati land allotment to spiritual bodies sparks debate over govt priorities

The allocation of land to prominent religious institutions in Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh has reignited controversy. While the state government insists these allotments comply with the Amaravati Land Allotment Regulations, 2017, critics question the propriety of handing over valuable land pooled from farmers to religious organisations during the capital city’s development, even if there is legal compatibility. The Federal recently discussed the matter in detail with political analyst Ganga Prasad and senior journalist G Anjaneyulu.

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The discussion began with an examination of the 2017 law, which specifies that the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) land may be allocated for four broad objectives: revenue maximisation, economic development, social development and infrastructure and public utilities.

As per the regulations, land allotted for economic development purposes is meant to draw investment, create employment, drive Amaravati’s growth, and boost land value.

Under social development, land may be provided to institutions that offer services in sectors such as education, healthcare and socio-cultural development at concessional rates.

So, are spiritual organisations eligible?

According to the panellists, the 2017 framework answers this question clearly.

Regulation 6.6.1.2 of the framework categorises institutions—educational, health, spiritual, and religious—as social amenities, making them eligible for land allotments. Allotting land to spiritual organisations thus does not contradict the regulations.

However, the regulations also impose certain conditions.

Institutions receiving land are required to disclose: The nature of the proposed project; the amount of investment; the number of jobs expected to be created; and the project completion timeline.

Also read: TISS audit of Amaravati land pooling scheme raises credibility concerns

The regulations also authorise officials to cancel the allotment and reclaim the land if the specified objectives remain unmet.

CRDA has given land to many prominent spiritual bodies

As it came out of the discussion, the CRDA has allotted land to many prominent spiritual organisations, including Art of Living (7.5 acres), Isha Foundation (7.5 acres), Brahma Kumaris (12 acres), Baba Ramdev's organisation (10 acres, Phase 1) and Sahaj Marg (2 acres). Chinmaya Mission and Sri Sathya Sai Trust also received land.

In total, around 50 acres have reportedly been allotted to various spiritual organisations.

Anjaneyulu questioned why prized capital-region land taken from farmers should be handed over to religious organisations. He asked what scale of investment these bodies would bring to the state, how many direct jobs they would generate, and whether the same land could have yielded greater economic returns had it gone to industries, IT firms, or higher educational institutions instead.

He also recalled that a proposal to give 300 acres in the Mulapadu hills area in the state to an organisation associated with Jaggi Vasudev, founder of Isha Foundation, was dropped after environmentalists objected.

The panel also examined the possible reasoning behind the government's decision.

By this view, a world-class capital city needs more than industries and IT companies — it also requires institutions representing education, healthcare, culture, and spirituality. Such organisations are typically non-profit and can help shape the city's identity, draw visitors, and strengthen its social infrastructure.

The government could thus argue that these allotments align with the social development objectives set out in the 2017 regulations.

Govt priorities under lens

The panel agreed that more than the legality of the allotments, it is the government’s priorities that need to be debated. The key policy question is whether, during the formative stage of building a capital city, priority should be given to industries, IT companies and projects that create jobs and economic activity, or to social and spiritual organisations.

Also read: Amaravati: Andhra's 'Eternal City' that's taking forever to build

The discussion also touched on the influence wielded by several large spiritual organisations across the country. One viewpoint held that many of these organisations and their leaders hold considerable social and political clout, allowing them to remain influential despite facing various allegations over time.

It is to be seen whether the development of the new capital city of Andhra Pradesh strikes the right balance between economic and social development. How each inch of land that the farmers have contributed to Amaravati’s rise is utilised will be closely watched in the days to come.

(This article has been made from a video discussion originally published in The Federal Andhra Pradesh.)