Fri Mar 07 03:40:50 UTC 2025: ## Historic Tank in Tirupati Faces Encroachment Threat
**TIRUPATI, March 7, 2025** – A historic tank in Tirupati, the Oteru tank, is facing a renewed threat of encroachment, sparking protests from local residents and the Communist Party of India (CPI). Recognized as a tank since 1886 under British rule and documented in 1925, the 36.34-acre water body, located near the national highway, is allegedly targeted for conversion into residential plots.
CPI leaders, led by District Secretary P. Murali, staged a demonstration at the Revenue Divisional Officer’s (RDO) office on Thursday. They accused individuals of attempting to alter revenue records to facilitate encroachment and claimed the tank, valued at ₹1080 crore, had been officially recognized as such until 2014. Mr. Murali highlighted attempts to breach the tank bund and fill its bed with earth.
The State’s Department of Water Resources previously objected to earth dumping on the tank’s foreshore in 2020, requesting action from local authorities. Engineering officials urged the removal of the dumped earth and prevention of construction in the buffer zone.
Responding to the protests, Tirupati Collector S. Venkateswar announced that steps will be taken to protect the Oteru tank and remove the illegally dumped earth. The incident underscores ongoing concerns over the preservation of water bodies in the face of development pressures.
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