KCR to distribute podu land pattas to tribals today

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao will leave for Asifabad on Friday to kick off the distribution of podu land pattas to tribals.

Rao was supposed to leave for Karimanagar on Thursday evening by helicopter and stay overnight in Karimnagar before leaving for Asifabad on Friday morning, but bad weather conditions forced the Chief Minister to put off the plan.

Distribution of podu land pattas has been a long-pending demand of tribals who have been cultivating forest lands for generations. They have been demanding ownership of these lands, failing which, they would be left at the mercy of the forest department, with several tussles and killings also being reported over the past few years.

The Chief Minister had promised to resolve this issue during the 2014 and 2018 Assembly polls but it did not materialise so far, due to various reasons.

The Chief Minister also announced to extend Rythu Bandhu and Rythu Bima benefits to those receiving podu land pattas from the ongoing Vaanakalam season. The aid will be credited to the bank accounts of these beneficiaries soon.