CRDA issues another notice to Naidu's rented house in Vijayawada

Vijayawada: Officials of Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) issued another notice to the owner of TDP chief and former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu's residence, Lingamaneni Ramesh, on Saturday for its demolition on the grounds that it is an illegal structure. The order was drafted on September 19 but it was served on Saturday.

The CRDA has given one week time for building owner to demolish the structure. Otherwise, the it will demolish the building as per the notice. It may be noted that the CRDA issued notices to 22 other building owners in the past. But surprisingly, now the CRDA issued notice to only Chandrababu Naidu's rented house even though dozens of buildings are located on the same stretch.

Former BJP Gokaraju Ganga Raju's luxurious guesthouse and naturopathic doctor Mantena Satyanarayana Raju's multi-storeyed building are adjacent to Naidu's residence.

Already, the State government is facing allegations of misusing official machinery for harassing the TDP leaders who even submitted a memorandum to Governor Biswabhushan Harichandan with same complaint recently. With CRDA now issuing a notice to only Naidu's residence, the issue may again trigger a row if the government razes only this building.

In the notice, the CRDA said that the unauthorized building, with the first floor, swimming pool and dressing room does not have required permission from the competent authority. The building is within the 100 metre from Krishna river course area which is against the River Conservancy Act.

The CRDA in its latest notice said it was not satisfied with the reply of the building owner to its previous notice on June 27. There was no 'No Objection' certificate issued for swimming pool construction by irrigation officials and the building owner has not submit the related documents so far. Moreover, the panchayat board resolution cannot be treated as building permission, the CRDA claimed.

It stated that the building obstructs the natural flow of Krishna river water which leads to massive flooding endangering human and animal population in the vicinity. Citing the recent floods in August this year, it said the building premises caused obstruction to the flow of water and the entire premises were flooded.

The CRDA has the power to protect the water bodies as per the existing laws, said the officials citing sections. Meanwhile, building owner Lingamaneni Ramesh reacting to the notice issued by the CRDA, said that he obtained permission from Undavalli panchayat and then River Conservator of irrigation department.

He wondered as to how he could get permission from the CRDA when it was not even in existence then. He said he obtained the required permissions from then competent authorities when there was no CRDA. The CRDA commissioner was not available to get the information on the notice issued for only this building.