A major land scandal has surfaced in Andhra Pradesh, involving the alleged encroachment of 76.74 acres of forest land within the Mangalampeta Reserve Forest. The probe has reportedly linked the illegal occupation to a senior YSRCP figure, former Forest Minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy.
The state government’s response was swift following media reports on January 29, 2025. A high-level, three-member committee, including the District Collector, Superintendent of Police, and Conservator of Forests, was formed to conduct a detailed joint inspection. Subsequent collaborative surveys involving the Forest, Revenue, and Land Records departments have yielded evidence of significant regulatory breaches.
According to the joint survey’s key findings, lands associated with the former minister’s family were expanded beyond the 75.74 acres permitted by the 1968 Gazette Notification. The illegally consolidated area, enclosed by a single fence, encompassed 103.98 acres, of which 32.63 acres are classified as Reserve Forest. The presence of 15 out of 26 forest boundary markers within this private fencing strongly suggests a deliberate act of encroachment.
Investigations revealed that the illegally acquired forest area was subsequently converted for private horticulture use, a punishable offense under the A.P. Forest Act, 1967. Adding to the gravity of the situation, a borewell was illegally dug inside the Reserve Forest to irrigate this encroached land, constituting a direct violation of forest resource protection laws.
The estimated damage to forest wealth, calculated scientifically, stands at Rs 1,26,52,750. A criminal case has been formally lodged (POR No. 3/2025) against the accused under sections of the AP Forest Act, 1967, and the BNS, with preliminary reports submitted to the court. Notably, notices issued on May 14, 2025, requiring the submission of land ownership documents, received no response, further substantiating the encroachment allegations.
The forest department has since taken action to reclaim the land. By May 28, 2025, the official boundary pillars were re-established as per the gazette, and the 32.63 acres of forest land were officially recovered. Fifty-six trees, predominantly mango, were also seized from the illegally occupied site.
Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan personally reviewed aerial survey images and field inspection reports before visiting the site. He subsequently briefed Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and outlined a series of decisive measures. These directives include making public the identities and details of all forest land encroachers, implementing strict legal action against all involved parties, scrutinizing claims of ‘ancestral land’ and inflated webland entries, acting upon vigilance findings, and implementing a digital land record system to enhance security and prevent manipulation. Kalyan emphasized the protected status of forest lands as national assets and pledged zero tolerance for any violations, regardless of political influence.
