Hyderabad: Keeping in view the unrest in tribal areas of the state, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has decided to tour tribal areas of the state in the coming days.
With the recent assaults on a Forest Range Officer in Asifabad district and forest officers in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district by tribals, the Chief Minister has asked Intelligence authorities about the situation in the tribal areas of Adilabad, Bhadradri-Kothagudem, Asifabad, Bhupalapally, Warangal and others, and is planning to visit the areas to resolve the land disputes.
Sources in the state government disclosed that Mr Rao has directed the forest, revenue and tribal welfare departments to identify the disputes with regard to forest lands district wise and report to the CM’s Office.
Sources pointed out that the CM also sought a report on the podu lands district wise and also the possibilities of providing alternative land to Adivasis and tribals who are dependent on podu or shifting cultivation, and also alternative land for Adivasis who have been living in the buffer zone of the reserve forest areas of the state.
Sources revealed that the CM will hold a review on the issue with senior officers before finalising his tour programme in the districts. It may be recalled that on January 25, Mr Rao had promised on the floor of the Assembly that he would find a permanent solution for the podu lands and other land disputes. He also promised to camp in the districts along with officials of the revenue and forest departments to resolve the disputes on the spot. While assuring the Adivasis that no coercive steps would be taken against them, Mr Rao said that a cut-off date will be fixed to clear all the pending applications under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
Mr Rap had said that he had kept the revenue portfolio with him to give a logical end to the various land issues, including forest land disputes.
