Officials told to protect govt lands

Eluru: West Godavari district collector K Bhaskar directed the officials to take steps to protect government lands in the district, apart from taking stringent action against encroachments.

He addressed the district level officials coordination committee meeting held at Collectorate here on Monday. Speaking on the occasion, he said that Irrigation, Panchayat, R&B and other government sites were encroached. He warned that stringent action would be initiated against the encroachers.

He directed various department heads to take responsibility for removal of the encroachments.

The Collector said that West Godavari district stood in first place in conducting the Smart Pulse Survey and added that it would not be possible without coordination of the officials.

Bhaskar said that special officers were appointed in mandal-level for the pulse survey.

Joint collector Pulipati Koteswara Rao suggested the district supply officer and district civil supplies corporation officials to work with coordination while purchasing paddy from the farmers. “Ensure transparency in purchases,” he added.

Additional joint collector MH Sheriff, district revenue officer Katta Hymavathi, district panchayat officer Sudhakar, DSO Sivasankar Reddy and others were also present.