Date:04/02/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/02/04/stories/2005020402690500.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Ministerial group to study issue

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUPATI, FEB. 3. The Revenue Minister, Dharmana Prasada Rao, has said that the Government will place the issue of illegal constructions raised on tank beds, canals and streams before a group of Ministers for a comprehensive study before arriving at action on the scores of such structures across the State.

Addressing a media conference after reviewing the situation with district officials here on Thursday, the Minister explained the need to retain and preserve water bodies to meet the future drinking water needs.

Mr. Rao said the temple town of Tirupati would be developed in a planned way and the thousands of acres lost would be redeemed.

He announced that a new post would be created and a senior official appointed in Tirupati, along with the required official apparatus to monitor the land issue and also the protocol affairs, given the huge VVIP influx into the temple town.

Later, the Minister was closeted in a meeting with the Endowments Minister, M.Satyanarayana Rao, Chief Whip, N.Kirankumar Reddy, Collector S.S.Rawat and TUDA chairman B.Karunakar Reddy. M.Venkataramana (Tirupati), SCV Naidu (Srikalahasti), R.Chenga Reddy (Nagari) and K.Narayanaswamy (Satyavedu), all MLAs, were present.