MLAs urge govt. to resolve Simhachalam Panchagramulu land row

Several Visakhapatnam MLAs raised the long-pending Simhachalam Panchagramulu land dispute in the Assembly and urged the government to resolve it quickly.

MLAs Panchakarla Ramesh Babu, Velagapudi Ramakrishna Babu, P. Vishnu Kumar Raju, P. G. V. R. Naidu, Ganta Srinivasa Rao, and Palla Srinivasa Rao jointly highlighted the issue during the ongoing Assembly session. They said the government should stop citing court cases and instead fix clear deadlines.

They also proposed a special committee to speed up the process. The panel, they said, should include the Advocate General, senior officials from the Revenue and Endowments departments, and local representatives. The MLAs added that the committee should recommend a time-bound solution.

Meanwhile, Endowments Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy said the government was keen to resolve the issue.

For nearly three decades, residents of Adavivaram, Vepagunta, Chimalapalli, Venkatapuram, and Purushothapuram have faced uncertainty over their land rights. The dispute dates back to 1996 and involves several government orders issued by successive governments.

However, residents continue to demand a permanent solution. They have sought regularisation of 12,149 houses built on land that authorities describe as encroached.

T.V. Krishnam Raju, secretary of Samaikhya Praja Rythu Sankshema Sangam, said political parties often raise the issue during elections. However, he said little progress follows after they assume power.

He added that the term of the current governing council of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation will end on March 17, 2026. Elections for a new council are expected soon. Therefore, he said, leaders have once again begun highlighting the issue in the Assembly.

The MLAs reiterated that the government should act quickly and provide a permanent solution to the long-pending dispute.