Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Forest Minister Pawan Kalyan said
that an aerial survey had found about 76.74 acres of land illegally taken
inside the protected Mangalam Peta forest area in the Eastern Ghats.
The land grabbing is said to be linked to former Forest Minister and
senior YSRCP leader Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy.
In a post on X, Pawan Kalyan said he visited the place to check the
situation himself. He also informed Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu
and other Cabinet Ministers about what he found.
After his visit, Pawan Kalyan ordered a full investigation into the
illegal occupation of the forest land. He said that strict action would
be taken against anyone responsible for damaging or misusing the land.
Officials have already started collecting proof and records about
the encroachment to help with the investigation.