Amaravati, Nov. 13 – Andhra Pradesh’s Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan has ordered a full investigation into a 76.74‑acre forest encroachment in the Eastern Ghats linked to former minister Peddireddy Ramchandra Reddy of the YSR Congress Party.
Kalyan, who also holds the state’s environment and forest portfolios, told officials to post the names of all people who have taken over forest land on the department’s website. He urged the government to press criminal cases against anyone who illegally grabs forest land and to publish the status of each case so that the public can see progress.
The order came after a drone survey that uncovered the illegal occupation of protected forest in the Mangalam Peta area, a reserve that is home to wildlife. Kalyan himself inspected the site, spoke with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and cabinet ministers, and directed a deeper probe into false land‑record claims. His office also asked for a full digital audit of land records to stop manipulation and increase transparency.
“We’ll hold anyone who encroaches or misuses protected forest area accountable, no matter who they are,” the Deputy CM’s office wrote on X. The post also shared videos of the drone flight and a map showing the encroached area.
Earlier this year, Ramchandra Reddy denied the allegations, calling them a “negative campaign” paid by media that are loyal to the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP). He said 75 acres of the land had been purchased in 2001 and that a 1981 survey had declared it non‑forest. He also claimed that a road to his estate had been built with central government permission and that former chief ministers had investigated the site without finding evidence against him.
A High Court case filed by a TDP leader was dismissed when the land appeared in the forest gazette as private property in 1968.
The investigation will look at any legal infractions and aim to protect the state’s forests from further encroachment.
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