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Probe ordered into ‘forest land encroachment’ by Peddireddy family

Allegations are baseless, claims Peddireddy

Tirupati:The AP government has taken a serious note of allegations that former minister and senior YSR Congress leader, Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy, has illegally encroached on forest lands.

Allegations are that approximately 75 acres of forest land in Mangalampeta revenue village, Pulicherla Mandal, Chittoor district, were unlawfully brought under the ownership of Peddireddy’s family.

Further claims indicate that hundreds of acres in Punganur, Thamballapalle and other mandals were acquired by the family through manipulated land records and benami transactions.

Preliminary reports have reached the CM’s office. According to land records, a private land parcel of 17.69 acres in Survey No. 295 and six acres in Survey No. 296 in a remote forest area of Mangalampeta are under scrutiny. This land is surrounded by reserved forest, and the entire patta land in these survey numbers is reportedly under the possession of Peddireddy’s family.

Official documents reveal that in 2000 and 2001, 45.8 acres of land in these survey numbers were registered under the names of Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy and his family members. Sale deeds indicate that the land was bought from individuals named Desireddy Sarveshwar Reddy, Chengareddy, Sriramulu Reddy, and Mangamma.

Consequently, the original landholding of 23.69 acres expanded to 45.8 acres. Further acquisitions allegedly brought the total land under their possession to 75.75 acres.

According to sources, investigators are analysing the subdivision of these survey numbers and the expansion of the family's holdings beyond the original land area. The government aims to gather concrete evidence before proceeding with legal action.

During a revenue department review meeting at the Secretariat, chief minister Chandrababu Naidu discussed the alleged encroachments. Following his directives, a joint committee was formed to investigate the matter.

The panel, comprising Chittoor collector Sumit Kumar, SP Manikanta Chandolu and IFS officer Yashodabai, has been tasked with conducting an inquiry and submitting a report.

Deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan, who handles the department of forests, has also taken cognisance of the issue and ordered an independent investigation. The principal chief conservator of forests has been directed to verify claims of encroachment and environmental destruction in Chittoor district.

Pawan Kalyan stressed identifying those responsible for manipulating land records and ensuring legal action. He has also called for a preliminary report for immediate government intervention.

Meanwhile, Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy dismissed the allegations of land encroachment, accusing the ruling coalition of a media-driven smear campaign. At a press conference in Tirupati, he rejected claims of grabbing 75 acres in Pulicherla as baseless and challenged the government to prove any illegal encroachment.

He clarified that his family legally purchased 23.69 acres in 2001, which was falsely portrayed as illegal expansion. Citing a 1981 official order, he asserted that the land was privately owned, not forest land, and had been used for mango orchards and cattle farming. He alleged that worker accommodations were misrepresented as illegal constructions.

Peddireddy recalled that during former CM Kiran Kumar Reddy’s tenure, a joint survey by forest and revenue officials confirmed the land’s private status. Another inquiry during Chandrababu Naidu's term in 2014 reaffirmed this. Even a high court case was dismissed, and the 1968 Forest Gazette classified the land as private property, he noted.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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