Free Irrigation Lands from Encroachments: Uttam
Uttam also directed officials to explore the feasibility of setting up solar power plants on irrigation lands abutting canals and other department lands, noting that the proposal had been discussed in the last Cabinet meeting.
Hyderabad: Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Thursday directed irrigation officials to crack down on encroachments of department lands and take steps to prevent further intrusions.
Chairing a high-level meeting at the Secretariat, Uttam Kumar Reddy cited significant encroachments on lands belonging to the Water and Land Management Training and Research Institute and the Telangana Groundwater and Irrigation Research Laboratory near Gandipet and Rajendranagar. Of the 426.30 acres held by these institutions, 131.31 acres have been encroached upon.
He noted that 20 cases related to these encroachments are pending in the district court, while two cases are ongoing in the High Court. He instructed officials to work towards the resolution of these cases.
As part of efforts to safeguard government lands, the minister requested the Advocate General to appoint a special government pleader exclusively for the irrigation department to handle legal matters concerning land protection.
He also directed officials to explore the feasibility of setting up solar power plants on irrigation lands abutting canals and other department lands, noting that the proposal had been discussed in the last Cabinet meeting.