Minister for Major Irrigation Devineni Umamaheswara Rao has instructed the Irrigation Superintending Engineers (SEs) of Vijayawada and Guntur circles to submit a detailed report on the several “unauthorised” buildings that have come up within the flood banks of Krishna River upstream Prakasam Barrage.
An informal media get-together on Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation’s luxury boat Bodhi Siri to celebrate the arrival of the New Year became a serious affair when the Minister noticed several multi-storied buildings on the river front.
The value of these lands on the river front will escalate tremendously once the construction of the new capital begins.
The Minister immediately called the Vijayawada and Guntur Irrigation circle SEs and asked them to prepare a comprehensive report on the leases and ‘pattas’ given to individuals and organisations. Giving them two weeks time, he said that he would hold a review meeting after Sankranti.
Lease report“While permissions are given only for temporary structures like sheds and huts multi-storied buildings have been constructed.” The buildings had enough floor space to set up a temporary capital.
Farmers only had the right to cultivate on the river bank and the land belonged to the government, he said. The Minister said that the report on the lease particulars and ‘pattas’ would be put before Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu when he comes here.
He said that after taking over as Irrigation Minister, he had given instructions not to renew the lease of Irrigation Department lands.
While no permanent constructions were allowed within the flood banks of the river under the River Conservency Act, huge palatial bungalows had come up within the flood bank on the right side and apartment blocks, colonies had come up on the left side of the river.
The lands on the river banks belonged to the public, but unlike the APTDC Punnami Resort, the money generated by these properties was not coming to the government, he said.
The Minister said that he would request the Krishna and Guntur district Collectors to extend all help for the preparation of the report within two weeks.
