A significant forest land encroachment scandal has emerged in Andhra Pradesh, with investigations revealing 76.74 acres of Reserve Forest land illegally occupied in the Eastern Ghats. This extensive land grab is reportedly linked to a prominent YSRCP leader, former Forest Minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy. The alleged illegal occupation occurred within the Mangalampeta Reserve Forest.
Prompted by media reports on January 29, 2025, the state government swiftly established a high-level committee. This investigative body, comprised of the District Collector, Superintendent of Police, and Conservator of Forests, was tasked with conducting a thorough joint inspection. Subsequent surveys by the Forest, Revenue, and Land Records departments have confirmed substantial violations of land regulations.
The findings indicate that land associated with the former minister’s family was illegally expanded beyond authorized cultivation limits. Original gazette notifications from 1968 permitted 75.74 acres for cultivation. However, the encroached area was fenced to encompass 103.98 acres, including 32.63 acres of designated Reserve Forest. Evidence suggests deliberate encroachment, with 15 out of 26 forest boundary markers found within the private fencing.
Furthermore, the investigation uncovered that lands belonging to four different pattadars were consolidated with forest land and enclosed by a single fence. This illegally occupied forest area was then used for horticulture, a clear violation of the A.P. Forest Act, 1967. The illegal use of forest resources extended to drilling a borewell within the Reserve Forest to supply water to the encroached land, constituting a criminal offense.
An estimated Rs 1,26,52,750 worth of forest wealth has been damaged, as per a scientific assessment. A criminal case has been filed under POR No. 3/2025, citing various sections of the AP Forest Act, 1967, and the BNS. Preliminary offense reports have been submitted to the court. Despite notices issued on May 14, 2025, demanding land ownership documents, no records were produced by the accused, reinforcing the claims of encroachment.
In response, the forest department has begun reclaiming the land. By May 28, 2025, boundary pillars were re-established according to the gazette notification, and the 32.63 acres of encroached forest land were officially recovered. Additionally, 560 trees, including mango and neredu varieties, were seized from the illegally occupied area.
Following a review of aerial imagery and field reports, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan visited the site. He subsequently briefed Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and issued stringent directives. These include publicizing the names of all forest land encroachers, detailing each encroachment, taking strict legal action against offenders, investigating false land claims, acting on vigilance reports, and digitizing land records to prevent future manipulation. Kalyan stressed that forest lands are national assets and vowed to prosecute anyone violating these protected areas, irrespective of their political standing.
