Telangana HC Seeks Response on Alleged Encroachment of Yerra Kunta Reservoir

April 29, 2026 : The Telangana High Court on Tuesday issued notices to the state government on a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking protection of the Yerra Kunta reservoir in Balanagar village of Mahabubnagar district, which is reportedly facing extinction due to expanding real estate activity.

A division bench comprising Justices P. Sam Koshy and Justice Narsing Rao Nandikonda passed the order while hearing the PIL filed by KV Madhu, a farmer from Balanagar. The matter has been posted for further hearing after the court’s summer vacation.

Appearing for the petitioner, counsel D. Damodar Reddy alleged that town planning authorities, in collusion with a Hyderabad-based real estate firm, Spectra Ventures, have assigned plot numbers over the 4.33-acre area where the reservoir exists. He further claimed that registration officials are proceeding with the registration of these lands in favour of prospective buyers.

The petitioner contended that authorities have failed in their duty to safeguard the water body, despite clear directions from the Supreme Court on protecting such resources. It was also alleged that the irrigation and revenue departments have proposed removing the Yerra Kunta reservoir from official village records to facilitate its conversion into residential plots.