JULY 21, 2019 • THE WEEK 35in the region goes to Alla Ramakr-
ishna Reddy, the YSR Congress lead-
er who defeated Naidu’s son Nara
Lokesh in the Mangalagiri assembly
constituency. RK, as Ramakrishna
Reddy is popularly known, had pe-
titioned the court over the issue two
years ago.
“These constructions clearly vio-
late the 1984 River Conservation Act,”
said Reddy. “The structures are locat-
ed between the river and a bund; as
per the act, there should not be any
kind of activity in this area, as it will
change the course of the river. Praja
Vedika didn’t even have permission
from the Andhra Pradesh Capital Re-
gion Development Authority. Worse,
Naidu used the premises for party
activities, while it is supposed to be
used only for official meetings.”
According to Reddy, Naidu’s resi-
dence was also constructed illegally.
“I don’t know why he is still staying
in the house,” he said. “His follow-
ers said it had permission from the
panchayat, but so far no documents
have been furnished as evidence.”
Naidu had earlier said that the
property and surrounding land was
acquired for building Amaravati,
Andhra Pradesh’s planned capital
city. But in 2015, when the TDP was
in power, notices were issued against
all buildings built on the river basin,
including the bungalow built by
Naidu. The same year, the irrigation
minister said all properties that were
issued notices were illegal ones,
but the controversy died down after
Naidu moved into the bungalow.
The flip-flops by the original
landowner, Lingamaneni Ramesh,
has not helped Naidu’s defence.
Ramesh had earlier said that he had
no connection with the property, as
he had given it away to the state gov-
ernment. He now says the property
is legal.
Environmentalists are pleased with
Jagan’s decision to go after illegal
constructions. “We have been op-
posing [Naidu’s residence] from day
one,” said Bolisetty Satyanarayana,
who petitioned the National Green
Tribunal against illegal constructions
in the Krishna basin. “If one were
to look at a map in the state’s 2010
disaster management plan, 70 per
cent of the proposed capital city of
Amaravati was inundated in the 2009
floods. These low-lying areas are part
of the floodplain. Any construction
in that zone will destroy the river
ecology. We are hoping that the state
government would demolish Naidu’s
residence and all other illegal prop-
erties. If exemptions are given, the
practice [of flouting rules] would
continue.”Jagan has also won praise for
banning bauxite mining in forested
areas of Visakhapatnam district—a
decision that the tribal community
has long been demanding. Jagan’s
style of functioning makes it clear
that he is on a mission to prove
himself. Within days of taking charge,
he transferred nearly 80 IAS and IPS
officers, and declared that he wants
to be called the best chief minister
within a year.
“It looks like Jagan is making his
moves carefully,” said political ana-
lyst Pentapati Pullarao. “He is making
sure that he is not doing anything
wrong. As far as Chandrababu Naidu
is concerned, he had spent a lot of
money. He lost even after he trans-
ferred money to voters under various
schemes just before the elections. He
is not in a great position, and it will
be interesting to see how he re-estab-
lishes himself.”THE GREEN-KEEPER
Jagan’s decision to go after
illegal constructions has
pleased environmentalists;
(left) The riverfront bunga-
low where Naidu lives