In Wanaparthy, efforts to reclaim government lands are being thwarted. Some local leaders are exploiting loopholes in rules to encroach on these lands. A shortage of officials and negligence by outsourced staff contribute to the misuse of public properties.
In the Srinivasapuram Gram Panchayat, part of Wanaparthy district headquarters, land under Survey No. 201 has been illegally occupied. Originally, this survey number included 29 acres, but land grabbers have now sold it off, and the land has vanished.
About 300 poor and disabled people were granted plots with land titles. While some built homes, others found their plots encroached upon and sold by self-proclaimed political leaders. Many had to seek justice through the courts.
Fraudulent land titles are being produced, misleading people into buying what they believe are government-issued pattas. This has become a profitable scam, with significant sums of money involved.
The entire 29 acres under Survey No. 201 are no longer publicly visible. Encroachers, facing no repercussions, are openly developing and selling plots.
Despite allegations of illegal plot sales on government land, officials have only placed token signage. These signs are now being removed by encroachers who continue selling plots.
The public, misled by local leaders, suffer financial losses reaching lakhs. They demand swift action from officials to reclaim the government land. There are calls for a special committee to identify constructions with fake pattas and to take strict actions against those involved and their supporters.
