ORDER :

C. Praveen Kumar, J.

1. The present Writ Petition came to be filed seeking issuance of Mandamus to declare the action of the Respondents in converting the pump house together with tree plantation, in an extent of Ac. 7.06 cents, situated in Survey No. 147, Chodavram Village and Mandalam, for distribution of house-sites under the guise of 'Navaratnalu-Pedalandriki Illu', as illegal, improper and incorrect.

2. The facts in issue, in brief, as under:

i. The Deponent and other Petitioners are residents of Chodavaram Village and claim to be persons, holding responsible positions in Chodavaram Village.

ii. It is stated that the land admeasuring Ac. 7.06 cents in Survey No. 147 is a Zeroyithi land and a pump-house was constructed to cater the drinking water needs of the villagers since eight decades.

iii. It is stated that the land originally belongs to private persons, who donated the same for catering to the drinking water need of the villagers, by construction of a pump-house. It is said that, in order to increase the ground water level and to protect the said land, trees were planted in the entire extent of land, due to which, there were substantial increase in ground water level. T