Stage set for CM KCR to distribute podu patta lands tomorrow

ADILABAD: Stage is set for Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao to distribute pattas to tribal people cultivating podu lands on Friday, June 30, at a function in Asifabad. Forest minister Allola Indrakaran Reddy is monitoring the arrangements for KCR’s meeting.

This is the second time that pattas will be given to those tribals cultivating podu lands under the Forests Rights Act. About 1.5 lakh tribal families will be getting ownership rights over 4 lakh acres of land abutting forests across the state.

Such lands were distributed to tribal people for the first time in 2009 during the Congress rule.

Indrakaran Reddy ruled on giving pattas for podu lands being cultivated by non-tribals. He underlined that the central Forest Rights Act 2005 entitles only tribal people to get right over the forest lands they have been cultivating for generations.

The minister said on July 1, about 15,000 tribal families living in Komaram Bheem Asifabad district will be given pattas for around 37,000 acres of land.

Indrakaran Reddy declared that there will be no more distribution of forest lands to tribals in the future.

He maintained that the forest department will dig trenches around forest lands to protect them and enable rejuvenation of those forests that had been destroyed in the state.

The minister said KCR has selected Asifabad for launching the distribution of pattas for podu lands, as legendary leader of Adivasis, Komaram Bheem, had fought for tribals’ rights of Jal, Jangal and Jameen in this area.

Indrakaran Reddy said those getting the pattas will also be given ₹5,000 under Rythu Bandhu for the podu lands being allotted to them.