Leave 10 acres in every village open, says Andhra HC

The High Court has directed the state government to consider the feasibility of directing the authorities concerned to ensure that at least an extent of one percent of the total area or 10 acres, whichever is higher, is reserved in every village for public purpose.

 The state has more than 28,000 villages in 1,128 mandals in 23 districts.

 Dealing with a writ petition by Chanaka Veeraiah of Chittoor district seeking protection of an 11.

20-acre government land at Chanakavaripalle in Sodum mandal in Chittoor district, justice L Narasimha Reddy has called for records and directed the Chittoor district collector and the Sodum mandal tahsildar to respond to the notices in four weeks.

 Expressing concern at deterioration of environment and depletion of livestock and denial of place for common use, the judge said that the court feels that even now corrective measures could be taken.

 The situation has reached almost alarming levels due to indiscriminate assignment of lands without leaving any space for community and general purposes, he remarked.

 The judge, in his order on a miscellaneous petition of the said case, has directed the Chittoor collector and the tahsildar not to allot the 11.

2 acres of land to anyone until further orders.

 He also directed the collector to ensure that in every village in the district at least an extent of one percent of the total area of the village or 10 acres, whichever is higher, is reserved for the purpose of growing plants and grazing of the cattle, and it shall never be allotted to any individual or agency.

 It shall be in addition to the areas covered by tank beds, burial grounds, etc.

 If adequate extent of land is not available, the one which is resumed on cancellation of assignment for any reason shall be earmarked for this purpose.

 To protect the land from grabbing, deep trenches around it shall be arranged by utilising the facility under the NREGS.

 The village revenue officer shall be entrusted with the obligation to protect such land, and to make it available for common use such as grazing and plantation purposes.

 The collector shall issue specific instructions to all the tahsildars in the district, he noted.