Officials Prepared Notices to Govt Land Encroachers in Erravalli
The cultivators claimed that they were assigned the land by previous governments, some as far back as in the 1970s and 1980s.
Siddipet:Revenue officials began issuing notices to some persons who had allegedly encroached on government land near former chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao’s farmhouse in Erravelli of Siddipet’s Markook mandal. Sources said around 180 notices had been drafted and 25 were issued to those cultivating on the government land in Survey No. 325 in the village.
The cultivators claimed that they were assigned the land by previous governments, some as far back as in the 1970s and 1980s. The notices asked the farmers to show documents to back their claims. Officials have not yet surveyed the former chief minister’s farmhouse, which is in the centre of the controversy.
Survey No. 325 in Erravelli is spread across 388 acres and five guntas of government land. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had announced in the Assembly that an inquiry would be conducted into encroachment of government land in the village, where Chandrashekar Rao has developed a farmhouse. Grabbed land would be taken over and assigned to Dalits who had staged a protest outside Chandrashekar Rao’s farmhouse recently.
Land and survey department used Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) to mark the government land holding. Land and survey department assistant director Rathod Sudarshan, Gajwel revenue divisional officer V.V.L. Chandrakala have been coordinating the survey for three days now. Markook tahsildar Saritha and her staff were preparing the notices to be issued to alleged landgrabbers
The exercise was almost complete at Erravelli, with officials finalising the boundaries of Survey No. 325. Based on the DGPS reports, the officials will verify the possession of government land. On the other hand, a few farmers said they were worried as they did not have documents to prove their claim.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior officer said on condition of anonymity that anyone encroaching on even one square yard of government land would be served notice, and action initiated after analysing their reply.
Siddipet collector K. Haimavathi confirmed to Deccan Chronicle that officials had prepared notices, and about 25 notices would be issued daily to farmers who were cultivating on government land in Survey No. 325. The notices would be served after tallying the details of survey and position, she explained. “Within 10 days, the process of issuing notices will be completed,” she said.