PNS|Vijayawada
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to addressing the long-standing issues surrounding Kolleru Lake through a balanced and humane approach. Emphasising the need to protect both the environment and the rights of local residents, the Chief Minister held a review meeting at the State Secretariat on Monday to deliberate on legal, regulatory and ecological challenges in the region.
CM Naidu highlighted the plight of nearly three lakh people residing within the Kolleru contour zone, who have endured years of uncertainty due to unresolved land disputes and conservation restrictions. He recalled that during the previous TDP government (2014–2019), significant progress had been made — notably a 2018 recommendation from the National Wildlife Board to exclude 20,000 acres of Jirayat and D-Patta lands from the sanctuary and redraw its boundaries.
However, he criticised the YSRCP government for failing to act, leaving the matter unresolved.
He affirmed that the current coalition government is determined to revive and settle the issue. “Justice must be done to farmers holding Jirayat and D-Patta lands in the Kolleru region. We must submit revised proposals to the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) and the Supreme Court, ensuring a solution that safeguards both livelihoods and the ecosystem,” he said.
Naidu also instructed officials to address environmental degradation, especially the inflow of untreated wastewater into the lake. “Kolleru must not become a cesspool. All drains entering the lake must be treated, and desilting operations should commence immediately,” he said. He directed the removal of encroachments from the Upputeru drain — the lake’s natural outlet to the sea — and ordered the opening of all water channels.
