Sangareddy: Following irregularities in fixing the full tank level of Kothakunta chervu in Aminpur, the Medak district administration has ordered the Superintending Engineer of Irrigation to fix the FTL of all major water bodies in the neighbouring mandals like Patancheru, Ramachandrapuram and Jinnaram.

Along with the recently formed mandal-level teams to monitor encroachment of water bodies, Assistant Engineers, Irrigation, have been asked to monitor the situation and report the same to the Joint Collector so that bi-monthly reports can be submitted to the Andhra Pradesh High Court. The apex court has earlier instructed the district administration to take steps to protect the water bodies from unabated pollution and encroachments. The administration, as per the court order, has closed down Jyothi theatre in Bollaram which is built in the lake bed and has been running for 15 years.

Few surrender land

Joint Collector Vani Mohan told The Hindu that physical verification of 2.20 lakh acres out of 2.60 lakh acres of assigned land had been completed by the end of April. However, only 125 acres of encroached assigned land was voluntarily surrendered. Some 15,000 acres of land was under illegal occupation and steps had been initiated to re-claim the land. She said that the Government was inclined to distribute the remaining land to the poor at a later stage.

Regularisation possible

Efforts were being made to also re-claim 300 acres of land encroached upon by several industries in the district. In addition, the recent study revealed that over 6,000 acres of assigned land has been registered in the name of a third party. The administration had served notices on them. The Joint Collector, however, did not rule out regularisation of rights in such cases.

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