Will the officials of the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) in Amaravati soon demolish former Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s residence on the Krishna riverfront? Speculations are rife after the CRDA started its demolition drive on the alleged illegal constructions on the riverfront this week – and especially after a cement ramp, that belonged to a man called Paturi Koteswara Rao, was dismantled, in the neighborhood of Naidu's residence.
Ever since the Jagan Mohan Reddy government came to power in Andhra Pradesh, there has been major controversy surrounding constructions on the Krishna riverfront. With allegations that these constructions are against environmental norms, the government has been on a warpath, and even demolished Chandrababu Naidu’s office, Praja Vedika, in June this year.
Now, official sources tell TNM that preparations are underway to demolish four other structures, including the former CM's residence.
This comes days after CRDA officials served notices to owners of buildings that allegedly violate the norms, and gave them seven days to remove the unauthorised constructions. The notice said that CRDA will demolish these structures if the owners failed to do the same.
Naidu's residence is owned by Lingamaneni Ramesh, a business tycoon rumoured to be close to the former CM. The allegation is that parts of the building, including the ground floor, first floor, swimming pool and dressing room, come within 100 metres of the High Tide Line of the Krishna RIver, and therefore are illegal as per the River Conservation Act of 1984.
"We have given notices to the concerned people about their violations. Several explanations are under examination, we will go ahead with demolition as per the rules and procedure," a senior official from CRDA who is overseeing the demolition drive said.
When TNM sought the details of remaining 19 constructions, CRDA officials refused, without sighting any reason. While TDP and Naidu are alleging that it's part of YSRCP’s vendetta to chase out the TDP patriarch from the vicinity of Amaravati, the YSRCP and the officials are citing the laws and their violation.
Meanwhile, Lingamaneni Ramesh, the owner of ex-CM Naidu’s residence, has written to current CM Jagan, claiming he had the requisite permissions for the building.
In the five page letter Lingamaneni said that the news about possible demolition of the building has saddened and worried him. He maintained that he had no political or economic motives behind giving his “guest house” to the former CM for his residence, and it was merely based on officials’ proposals.
"Me and and my family were mentally hurt because of certain cooked up stories of my bonhomie with Naidu as the reason for accommodating him in my house,” he said.
Claiming that he was saddened by the initiatives of Jagan's government, he claimed that people across the state are in fear as the spate of demolition procedure may one day reach their doorsteps. He urged the CM to take facts into consideration, stating that he learnt that officials were ordered to inquire about his and his families and firms properties.
However, it is to be seen if the government would move ahead and take up a similar drive against several other constructions including certain religious structures and mutts which fall in the river bed in the region.
It’s now only a matter of days though to see whether or not Jagan’s government officials will go ahead with the demolition of his rival’s home.