The Andhra Pradesh and Telangana High Court on Tuesday issued notices to the owners of Lingamaneni Estates, where the makeshift residence of AP Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is located, after hearing a petition pertaining to encroachments on river Krishna basin.
Naidu is residing in a 1.5 acre property in Undavalli village in Guntur district after shifting his base from Hyderabad last year. Activists and opposition party members have been protesting the chief minister's choice, which was leased from businessman Lingamaneni Ramesh, alleging that the property came up very close to Krishna river in violation of the existing environmental laws.
The high court issued notices to dozens of others also, including a BJP MP, who constructed structures along the banks, and asked them to file counter response by October 10. The petition was filed by YSRCP MLA Alla Ramakrishna Reddy.
The petitioner stated that despite complaining to the irrigation department and local administration, no action was taken against the encroachments. He said that since the river is used for drinking water, it is very important to conserve it and also to prevent an ecological imbalance.
Last year, environmentalists also knocked on the doors of National Green Tribunal (NGT) on this issue.
Former Union secretary of power and activist, EAS Sarma is also one of those who spoke out on the issue.
“A few days back, I wrote a letter to the chief secretary of AP. I complained to him that this property not just violates environmental but also urban norms. As per the River Conservancy Act of 1884, if there is any construction on the floodplains, permission has to be taken from irrigation department. In this case, it looks like a violation. From Google images, there seems to be expansion of the property too.”
He said he is hopeful that after the high court direction, a resurvey will be carried out in the area.
Last month, water conservationist, Rajendra Singh, known as 'Waterman of India' appealed to the chief minister to move out of his residence as it was built in the Krishna river floodplains.
