Joint survey proposed to fix boundaries of Swarnamukhi river

The Tirupati Urban Development Authority (TUDA) held a review meeting on ‘Operation Swarna’, its ambitious project to remove encroachments and free Swarnamukhi river from land grabbers.

At a meeting of Irrigation, Revenue and Survey department officials here on Wednesday, the TUDA Chairman C. Divakar Reddy proposed that a joint survey should be conducted to fix the boundaries of the river from Thondawada in Chandragiri mandal up to Srikalahasti temple.

Mr. Reddy wanted the boundary of the river demarcated along the buffer zone to ensure adequate space in case of flooding, and also keeping in view the future requirements.

Assistant Director of Land Survey Arun Kumar presented the preliminary survey done using Google Maps, while TUDA Secretary N.V. Sreekanth Babu highlighted the need to rejuvenate the river for the benefit of posterity.

Suggesting the formation of a body similar to HYDRA in Hyderabad, Tirupati Revenue Divisional Officer A. Ramamohan sought data from TUDA pertaining to unauthorised layouts and constructions across the Swarnamukhi river.

Irrigation officials Venkateswara Prasad, Siva Reddy, surveyors and Tahsildars of Tirupati Rural, Chandragiri, Renigunta, Yerpedu and Srikalahasti mandals took part in the meeting.