Encorachments hinder plans for Nellore tank

Nellore: Beautification of Nellore tank on the lines of Tank Bund in Hyderabad under Amruth scheme at an estimated cost of Rs 30 crore is being entrusted to Nellore Urban Development Authority instead of Nellore Municipal Corporation.  Water Theme Park has been added to the original plan. Initially Nellore Municipal Corporation had been asked to take up the work on the development of the 3 km long Nellore tank (Swarnala Cheruvu) bund in three phases with funds being made available under Union government's Swadesh Darshan scheme.

Later, Rs 30 crore was sanctioned from Amruth Scheme for the project. In a latest move, urban development minister P. Narayana instructed Nellore Urban Development Authority. He directed the authority to plan a motel, walking track and a bicycle track while developing greenery as part of the beautification drive for tank bund located adjacent to Jonnawada road. The facelift work would start from Irukalala Parameswari temple in Nellore to give a fillip to the aesthetics of the tank bund.

The start of the work, however, depends on the removal of encroachments from the spot. There is hardly any move seen from authorities on this. According to revenue officials, there are 220 makeshift houses erected more than two decades back on the tank bund giving shelter to poor such as rickshaw pullers and servants. Though most of them shifted to the dwellings built opposite the tank bund under Rajiv Gruhakalpa scheme, the makeshift houses remain occupied.