KONDA VARAMMA Vs. DISTRICT JUDGE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Till recently, the Government and in particular, the Revenue and Forest Departments used to ensure that a perfect mechanism is maintained in the matter of land use. Forests were protected with utmost care. Even where the lands are classified as revenue, a decent balance used to be maintained between agricultural lands, water bodies, grazing porambokes and lands for other communal uses. However, not only the politicians, but also the bureaucrats contributed to the disturbance of the balance. The result is that irrigation tanks, their ayacuts, substantial extents of forests have disappeared. The policies that are followed would indicate that the cattle and the grazing lands have no relevance. The place that is specifically assigned to the mute animals appears to be the slaughter houses. The spreading of concrete jungles has become the order of the day. The present case is an example that indicates the trend.

(2.) Maddurupadu Village is in the neighbourgood of Kavali of Nellore District. Very long ago, an extent of Acs.30.72 cents of land in Survey No.596 was classified as jungle poramboke. Recognising the need to provide grazing land, the classification was changed way back in the year 1917, as grazing poramboke. As in any other township, there is expansion in Kavali Town also.

(3.) Recently, the Government came forward with a scheme to provide about 65 lakhs houses as a measure of translating the election promise, without even verifying as to whether the land for such a big scheme is available or whether there is genuine necessity at all. It is not without reason that large-scale irregularities involving thousands of crores of rupees have taken place and umpteen number of cases are pending.