Kakinada Authorities to Serve Eviction Notices on 1,548 Acres of Waterbody Encroachments

Fast Summary

• Kakinada District Committee on Protection of Waterbodies, chaired by joint Collector rahul Meena, held a meeting regarding encroachments on drinking and irrigation ponds in the district.
• A total of 1,548 acres of waterbodies across Kakinada district have been identified as encroached land.
• The committee plans to serve eviction notices to those occupying this land.
• A joint survey conducted by the Revenue and Water Resources departments in 2024 revealed that the district has 21,185 acres of waterbodies. Over the past year, approximately two-and-a-half acres were reclaimed from encroachers.
• Rahul Meena instructed officials to carry out a fresh survey and confirm boundaries before issuing eviction notices for encroachments on identified areas.
• Measures such as erecting new boards displaying pond details (extent, boundaries, and survey numbers) are planned to prevent further illegal occupation.
• Authorities from Revenue, Panchayat, Town Planning Departments as well as Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board participated in the meeting.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The decision by Kakinada’s District Committee underscores an effort to safeguard critical resources like drinking and irrigation ponds that are vital for both local livelihoods and sustainable progress. Encroachments not only diminish these natural assets but also possibly disrupt water security during periods of scarcity or drought-a critically important concern in agrarian economies such as Andhra Pradesh’s. Reclaiming public land through clear demarcation (using boards with official boundaries) is a pragmatic move toward preventing legal ambiguities over ownership or usage rights.

Ensuring implementation will require consistent follow-through by officials alongside public awareness campaigns about resource preservation responsibilities among stakeholders-this could encompass citizens living near ponds and institutional actors alike. Long-term success may hinge on coordinated planning between departments involved-Revenue and Pollution Control among others-to enforce regulations effectively while balancing ecological conservation concerns. Openness about progress could bolster trust within affected communities.

Source/Image: The Hindu