INTELLECTUALS FORUM, TIRUPATHI vs STATE OF A.P. .

The Supreme Court addressed the legal principles surrounding the use of public lands and natural resources, emphasizing the need for environmental protection in the context of the systematic destruction of historical water tanks in Tirupathi, namely Avilala and Peruru Tanks. The Court held that the alienation of these tank bed lands by the Government for housing purposes, as per G.O. Ms. No. 84 Rev. and G.O. Ms. No. 181 Rev., was improper and detrimental to the local ecology and water resources. The Court ordered the restoration of the status quo ante regarding the tanks, reinforcing the primacy of environmental considerations over economic growth.