Hyderabad: As the types of land shot up in disbelief in and around Vijayawada, the region has been chosen as the new capital of Andhra Pradesh, the state government is trying to improve the book value of the land to absorb additional income. 

However, the government has yet to make a decision on enhancing the value of land, although the proposal is being seriously looked as Deputy Chief Minister AP KE Krishna Murthy. "We are planning to enhance the value of land in and around Vijayawada in sync with the increased market value. Decision can come in two months," Murthy, who holds the portfolio of Revenue, told a press conference today here. 

The rise in land value would be limited to Vijayawada and surrounding places and not to other parts of the state, he added. 

The government, however, has imposed a ban on land records in Vijayawada region to keep a tab on exorbitant fees, he said. 

"We are currently investigating the extent of the land, both government and private, available in and around Vijayawada to the requirements of the new capital. We are leading public opinion on how to go about the process of land acquisition for the new capital . 

"A notification has already been issued and a committee is looking at the issue. There will be some clarity on this after the committee submits its report," he said. 

To a query why it was not part of the cabinet sub-committee constituted for land pooling training options for the new capital, Murthy said he personally opted out of it. 

His clarification came in the backdrop of reports that he left sulking after the head of government deliberately not included in the CM Deputy Cabinet Sub-Committee although he handles the crucial income portfolio that controls all land issues. 

"Everybody knows why I opted out of committee," Murthy said.