Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy launched a broadside against his predecessor and Leader of Opposition N. Chandrababu Naidu for questioning the government’s crackdown on the illegal structures that sprang up along the river and canal banks such as Praja Vedika and the Lingamaneni guest-house in which the former CM was staying even after being served eviction notices.
Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy stated emphatically that he had asked the district Collectors to take a tough stand on such constructions in order to protect the rivers and water bodies from encroachments, the consequences of which would be devastating.
The Chief Minister pointed out that many buildings were constructed across the State in blatant disregard for the River Conservancy Act of 1884, orders of the Lokayukta for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to remove illegal structures obstructing the flood courses of rivers, and the Building Regularisation Scheme (BRS).
“Mr. Naidu had set a bad precedent by violating the rules. If the Chief Ministers themselves commit irregularities, who will care for the laws enacted by the elected representatives.