Encroachment of Golla Cheruvu tank bed resented

Tandur:  The 81.3-acre Golla Cheruvu in the heart of the town is shrinking with each passing day. Thanks to encroaching of the tank bed by vested interests. The people of the town are apprehensive whether if the tank would totally disappear if the present trend of official apathy were to continue.  It is pertinent to note here that the state government earmarked Rs 4 crore to develop the bund of the tank, which was subjected to encroachment, into a mini-tank bund. 

It may be recalled that four years ago the revenue officials served notices on 200 persons accusing them of constructing houses encroaching the tank bed.  The then district officials conducted a survey of the tank area and submitted a report to the state government, but the fate of the report was not known.  On one hand, 12 acres of the tank bed has been subjected to encroachment and on the other, the officials have been laying roads and drainages, laying drinking water pipelines and fixing street lights to the houses in the encroached tank bed. The officials never displayed the attitude to protect the rest of the tank bed from encroachment. 

To provide entertainment to the people of the town, the state government has decided to widen the tank bund, plant saplings and fix play equipment for the children spending Rs 4 crore.  Domestic waste water from homes in the town is let out into the tank. Besides, water is finding its way into the tank when it rains. Consequently, the houses on the fringes of the tank are facing the problem of inundation. District officials on several occasions got the homes vacated temporarily. But the problem is back to square one. Some persons have been accused of blocking the pipelines discharging sewerage waste into the tank, besides encroaching the tank bed. 

The people of the town have been demanding remedial action stating that it was high-time the officials responded to save the tank from encroachments.  When contacted, the district officials have been warning the vested interests against encroaching the tank bed. They warned of stern action if anyone undertakes construction of any structures in the tank bed. An officer of the rank of Tahsildar would be deployed to inspect the tank and take action against the culprits depending on the report submitted by him.