Telangana state government calls Nagarjuna ‘land grabber’

Hyderabad: Calling actor Akkineni Nagarjuna a “land encroacher,” the Telangana state government on Tuesday told the Hyderabad High Court that there was prima facie evidence that land at Thammidi kunta lake was encroached to construct the N Convention Centre. Justice A. Rajasekhar Reddy was hearing a plea by Nagarjuna challenging the action of the authorities in fixing the Full Tank Level near his convention centre without giving a notice to him.

The Advocate-General said the government is empowered to visit any of its lands without permission. The GHMC, revenue and irrigation authorities inspected the lake to ascertain how much of its land was encroached by the private persons.

P. Raghuram, senior counsel appearing for the actor, said that for demarcation of land, either by the government or private individuals, it was mandatory that the neighbours be issued a issue. The case was adjourned to Wednesday.

The AG assured that the authorities will initiate action against the petitioner after following the due process of law.

A.G K. Ramakrishna Reddy told the court that the petitioner had occupied a piece of land while constructing his convention centre and it was an unauthorised construction. He said the government would notify the actor if it came to a conclusion that the lake-bed was encroached to construct N Convention. He added that the actor build the centre without permission and had applied for the regularisation of his construction in 2010 under the Building Penalisation Scheme. However, his application was rejected by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation on August 12, 2010. The actor had then moved the High Court and obtained the status quo.

The Advocate-General said the government is empowered to visit any of its lands without permission from anyone. The GHMC, revenue and irrigation authorities inspected the lake to ascertain how much of its land was encroached by the private persons.

The AG assured that the authorities will initiate action against the petitioner after following the due process of law. To inspect the land of the lake, there was no need to issue notice to the petitioner.

P. Sri Raghuram, senior counsel appearing for the actor, said that for demarcation of land, either by the government or private individuals, it was mandatory that the neighbours be issued a issue. The judge adjourned the case to Wednesday.