THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NOOTY RAMAMOHANA RAO W.P.NO. 28130 OF 2009 ORDER: This writ petition raised matters concerning the apathy of public administration towards vows of the citizens of the country. Several breaches have occurred to Akhanda Godavari river in the year 1986. To fill those breaches on an emergency basis, to minimize the loss of life and property, the District Collector, West Godavari District, has ordered for excavation of earth from the lands belonging to the petitioners with a promise to compensate them immediately. The breaches were filled successfully and so did the State and its officials forgot the necessity to compensate the petitioner. 14 years of his useless pursuit by going around the offices of the respondents has brought this writ petition. The Executive Engineer, Godavari Head Works Division, Dowleswaram, filed a detailed counter affidavit in the matter. He has explained as to the various steps and measures taken, ultimately resulting in the Engineer-in-Chief, Irrigation and Command Area Development Department, Hyderabad, releasing a sum of Rs.6.81 lakhs through his communication dated 18.8.2010, to be deposited with the Revenue Divisional Officer for disbursing the same. It is relevant to notice that the Irrigation Department has calculated the interest payable only up to the end of August 2010. It is now brought on record through a report sent up by the Collector, West Godavari District, through fax on 18.1.2011 that the Executive Engineer, Godavari Head Works Division, Dowleswaram, has deposited the funds through a demand draft on 2.12.2010 drawn in a sum of Rs.6,80,837/- towards the compensation with the Revenue Divisional Officer. In spite of receiving the same, the Revenue Divisional Officer, Jangareddygudem, made the petitioner, according to the learned counsel for the petitioner, go around him several times. He has been wantonly and purposefully delaying the payment. In those set of circumstances, a detailed order has been passed on 20.12.2010 directing the District Collector and Magistrate, West Godavari District, to conduct an enquiry into the conduct of the Revenue Divisional Officer, Jangareddygudem for delaying, quite deliberately the payment of compensation to the land losers. After the Collector intervened as per the above direction, the Revenue Divisional Officer, it appears, very grudgingly paid the money to the land owners on 29.12.2010, the date set by this court for filing the report of the Collector. The Revenue Divisional Officer, Jangareddygudem, it appears, has offered all kinds of conceivable lame excuses before the Collector for the delay that had occasioned in the payment. It is strange that the District Collector and Magistrate, West Godavari, has fallen for these lame excuses pleaded by the Revenue Divisional Officer for the delay, instead of reprimanding him for the hopeless attitude exhibited by him thus heightening the suffering of the citizens. I hope and trust that henceforth serious view of this kind of misconduct would be taken note of. Now that it is represented that the land losers have been paid the compensation amount, though quite belatedly, I do not consider it appropriate to keep the writ petition pending any further. Hence, the writ petition is disposed of, as no further orders are needed. No costs. --------------------------------- Nooty Ramamohana Rao, J knk 18th January 2011 Note: Copy of this order be communicated to the District Collector, West Godavari District