No action against tank encroachers

Anantapur: Notwithstanding the claim of the State government that it is committed to restoration of tanks and minor irrigation sources to develop water resources in AP, no action has been taken against encroachers of Bukkarayasamudram Cheruvu at the Collectorate in the district headquarters. Consequently, the area of the tank of Vijayanagara period is gradually shrinking.

• Bukkarayasamudram Cheruvu fast shrinking S Tank restoration will help solve water woes
• Urgent steps needed to preserve water body of Vijayanagara period

If the revenue and irrigation authorities continue to be indifferent to encroachments, the tank with historical significance may be extinct soon. According to historical evidence, the tank was built during the regime of Bukka Raya, one of the founders of Vijayanagara kingdom.

Chikkappa Udaiyar, minister of Bukka Raya, who constructed the tank, named its two banks after the King Bukka Raya and the Queen Anantasagaram. With the passage of time, it became Bukkarayasamudram Cheruvu. The tank spread over 2,036 acres, has a capacity to store 0.5 tmc water. It has an ayacut of 1,016 acres. It is also meeting the drinking needs of 20 villages in the area.

As many as 137 borewells in its vicinity are dependent on the tank. A summer water storage tank was constructed in the tank to meet the drinking needs of the district headquarters town. Later, it went into the hands of some influential politicians. Now, pulses are being raised in the area illegally. Many huge unauthorised structures have also come up on the tank bed.

The place is also occupied by brick kilns and vegetable gardens. The inlet and outlet channels of the tank have also been encroached upon obstructing the inflow and outflow of water. Several encroachments have also come up downstream. Some influential people, who sunk borewells in the tank, are indiscriminately exploring the groundwater for their irrigation needs.

The revenue authorities recently allotted two acres of land on the tank bed to the Forest department for a nursery. Later, the Forest department was allotted land at some other place when a political leader raised severe objection to it. The revenue authorities, who remained mute spectators to mushrooming encroachments, drew flak from people for their inaction against the influential land grabbers.

Expressing concern over large scale encroachments on the tank bed, a resident of the area said: “The revenue officials, who do not hesitate to demolish the huts erected by poor people on a piece of government land, have remained silent though the influential people grabbed the tank land worth crores of rupees.’’

Speaking to The Hans India, CPM district secretary Rambhupal said: “The State government’s inaction against the land grabbers has proved that it is pro-rich. The water problem in the area can be solved to a great extent if the glory of Bukkarayasamudram Cheruvu is revived as part of Neeru Pragati and other programmes meant for development of minor irrigation sources.’’

When contacted, the RDO promised to remove encroachments on the tank bed after getting an inquiry conducted into the matter by Tahsildar. The restoration of Bukkarayasamudram Cheruvu will not only help solve water woes of people, but also preserve the rich history of Vijayanagara kingdom.