As locals file case against installation of 5 statues, 6th one emerges from nowhere

Uppal: The residents living around the Ramanthapur Pedda Cheruvu are a confused lot. The issue of installing statues of prominent personalities near the lake has been going on for more than a year has now taken a new turn. There were five statues but overnight, a sixth statue came up. Vijaya, a owner of plant nursery beside the cheruvu, says, “Installing of statues started a year ago without permission of the residents and five statues were installed before a complaint was lodged, but now there are six statues.” 

The residents, who have invested in the plots near the lake, approached the High Court and the case has come up for a court hearing on July 31. The Uppal police registered a case following a complaint lodged by GHMC officials against unauthorised installation of the idols. NVSS Prabhakar Uppal MLA says, “The work has been stopped by the GHMC and the case is in High Court. We will have to wait and see.” 

The Revenue Department officials maintain that the Ramanthapur Pedda Cheruvu was under the ‘shikam’ patta and that it was spread over in survey numbers 42, 43, 44 across 32 acres. Locals have been opposing the installation of statues and claim that they had purchased lands. They allege it was a ploy to usurp their plots by some vested interested persons. A few months back, locals took out a padayatra to the MLA’s house to express their displeasure.