Following the latest war of words between Telangana academic and political analyst Prof K Nageshwar and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, which triggered a storm on social media, Telangana activists have stepped up their campaign over the alleged encroachment of lake land by the Jana Sena Party chief.
The issue has triggered intense political and public debate in Telangana after allegations surfaced claiming that land associated with Pawan Kalyan at Janwada, near Gandipet, was linked to encroached water body areas.
Questions have been raised over whether surrounding constructions gradually occupied lake areas or whether the land itself was originally part of the water-spread area that was later filled with soil for development purposes.
Pawan Kalyan’s office issued a clarification regarding the ongoing controversy surrounding agricultural land at Janwada in Telangana, rejecting what it described as “false propaganda” over the alleged encroachment of lake land.
In a statement released in image format, Pawan Kalyan’s office shared survey number details and supporting documents to counter allegations that land linked to the actor-politician falls within Full Tank Level (FTL) or water body limits.
The clarification also included a document reportedly certified by the Shankarpally MRO office.
Supporters of Pawan Kalyan and Jana Sena activists questioned how the land could be termed an encroachment.
In response, independent land records analysts and social media users began examining satellite imagery, Google Maps records and historical revenue documents to determine the status of the disputed land.
According to records being circulated online, Pawan Kalyan purchased around eight acres of land in Survey No. 695 in 2002, situated approximately 200 metres away from Kodicheruvu lake. A farmhouse was later constructed on the property in 2014.
Observers examining historical satellite imagery claim that large portions surrounding the lake had already undergone encroachments and land conversions under the category of “Ek Saal Pattas” well before the purchase.
Google Maps imagery is reportedly being cited to argue that land-use changes around the lake predate Pawan Kalyan’s acquisition.
The controversy has also revived discussion about the distinction between lake boundaries, patta lands and FTL regulations.
Kodicheruvu is said to spread across nearly 26 acres and seven guntas. Under the WALTA Act of 2002, irrigation and revenue authorities reportedly identified portions of the lake area and categorised only about 2.36 guntas in Survey No. 707 as government land, while the remaining extent was treated as private patta land.
However, legal and environmental experts note that when water levels rise, lands within the water-spread area can effectively become part of the FTL zone.
Following land reforms and revenue regulations introduced after 1975, lands containing water bodies were, in several cases, categorised under “Ek Saal Pattas” and continued to be reflected in revenue pahani records for years.
After the implementation of the WALTA Act in 2002 and stricter environmental norms regulating the removal of water bodies and trees, several disputes reportedly emerged over lands originally classified as private holdings but later identified as water-spread or FTL areas.
In many such cases, lakes were gradually filled with soil and converted into real estate layouts under the argument that no active water body existed on the site.
Analysts examining the Encumbrance Certificate and linked documents related to Pawan Kalyan’s land transactions have pointed to references involving multiple registration document numbers from 1994, 2005, 2006 and 2013.
At the same time, questions are also being raised regarding the historical ownership trail of the disputed land and whether all revenue records linked to earlier transactions were properly reflected in official government documentation.
While Pawan Kalyan’s office has denied any wrongdoing and released supporting land documents, the controversy continues to generate political debate, with legal, environmental and revenue-related aspects now coming under closer public scrutiny.
