In a big relief to Telangana Rashtra Samithi working president and Information Technology minister K T Rama Rao, the state high court on Wednesday stayed the notice issued by the National Green Tribunal to him on the alleged construction of a farmhouse on the outskirts of Hyderabad in violation of rules.
The high court passed the orders following a petition filed by KTR challenging the NGT notice served on him last week, based on a petition filed by Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee working president and Malkajgiri MP A Revanth Reddy.
KTR has denied the allegation that he owned a farm house at Janwada village of Ranga Reddy district, but Revanth Reddy had alleged that KTR indeed owns a luxury farmhouse with a swimming pool on 25 acres, which falls under prohibited bio-conservation zone near, which was obstructing the natural rainwater channel to Osmansagar reservoir.
KTR, who is the son of chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, said the NGT case filed against him by a Congressman was a deliberate personal vilification campaign based on utter false statements.
“It remains a fact that I don't own the property as clarified by me earlier. I will seek appropriate legal remedies by exposing falsehood of allegations," Rama Rao had tweeted.
The Chennai branch of NGT on June 5 ordered that a committee of Central and state officials be set up to investigate whether or not a farmhouse reportedly owned by KTR violates a zoning law meant to protect two important water bodies near Hyderabad.
It had asked the government and KTR to respond to allegations that the farmhouse was built within the catchment area of Osmansagar.
The bench had directed the committee to conduct the inspection and submit a report within two months with its findings and suggestions.