Tension prevailed on the Andhra Pradesh-Telangana State border after revenue officials of Andhra Pradesh removed scores of huts, erected by the tribals of both States, from the early hours of Friday at Kannayyagudem hamlet of Yetapaka mandal in Chintoor Agency in Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) district.
The local police were also present during the eviction drive.
“We have removed the huts erected by the encroachers, who are native of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, on a 20-acre area, as per the directions of the A.P. High Court in a petition filed by a group of private land-owners,” Sub-Collector and Chintoor ITDA Project Officer K. Chaitanya told The Hindu.
“Some families belonging to both the Telugu States have encroached the private land on the two-State borders. However, none of them are residing in the huts. We have removed the huts after serving a three-month notice on the encroachers,” district Collector Sumit Kumar said.
Meanwhile, many tribal groups condemned the eviction drive, citing that the tribals who were displaced by the Polavaram irrigation project had erected the huts as their rehabilitation colonies were inundated during the Godavari floods.
