Govt explores legal options to halt Kolleru demolitions after SC orders: Naidu

Vijayawada: Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday said the state govt is exploring legal options to temporarily halt the ongoing demolitions in the Kolleru region. Naidu, along with deputy chief minister K Pawan Kalyan, held a review meeting with Eluru district officials and public representatives following multiple requests from fishermen associations and local people living within the Kolleru Lake area.
The Supreme Court recently pulled up the state govt for not complying with its earlier orders directing the removal of encroachments and illegal fish tanks. The state govt launched a demolition drive within the Kolleru region following the directions of the apex court, which asked for a fresh status report on the removal of encroachments.
The demolition drive started by the state govt faced stiff resistance from the locals. As many as 120 habitations are within the Kolleru region. The Supreme Court had earlier directed removal of all encroachments within the wildlife sanctuary but allowed fishing by conventional methods. However, the wildlife sanctuary was not demarcated clearly, leading to confusion. The issue remains unresolved for many years.
Eluru MP Putta Mahesh Kumar blamed the YSRCP govt for not conducting a survey and defining the boundaries even after the central govt approved the allocation of 15,000 acres of assigned land and 7,000 acres of society land. "The negligence of the previous govt caused great injustice to the people of Kolleru," he said.
Considering the difficulties of the locals and the district officials, Naidu said a high-level meeting with the environment and forest department will be held, and the govt will make a final decision. Naidu assured that based on the reports submitted by the officials, the govt will do justice to all affected people. Pawan Kalyan also promised to escalate the issue with the Union govt to find a permanent solution to the long-pending problem.