Telangana CM K Chandrashekar Rao announced that the State government would start the distribution of podu land pattas to tribals from the end of February.
Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao today announced that the State government would start the distribution of podu land pattas to tribals from the end of February.
Taking part in the question hour during the Assembly session, the CM said that of the 66 lakh acres of forest land in Telangana, about 11.5 lakh acres had been identified for distribution to the tribals, and that the distribution would start from the end of February.
The CM however said that the pattas would be handed over to the beneficiaries only after taking a written undertaking from them in the presence of the village presidents and local elected representatives that there would be no further encroachment of forest lands.
After the distribution of the identified 11.5 lakh acres, strict action would be initiated against those who tried to encroach forest land, including the government taking back any land given to them, the CM said.
"After this distribution, the government will put an end to the practice of distributing forest land to tribals. We will also not tolerate any more encroachments of forest lands. If tribals claim forest lands are their right then there will be no forest lands left in the future, there will be no greenary in the State and the entire eco-system will be disturbed," KCR said.
He also claimed that a few leaders were trying to fish in troubled waters and mislead the tribals on the issue of podu lands, and that people from Chhattisgarh were being brought to create issues in forest lands in the State.
Specifically referring to a forest official being brutally attacked and killed by tribals in Khammam, the CM said that such incidents would not be tolerated in the future.
He however said that police and forest officials too needed, while following the law, to act on humanitarian grounds, and that they should not attack or overreact on the tribals.
The CM added said that after the distribution of podu land pattas to the beneficiaries, the government would provide three-phase power supply, Rythu Bandhu benefits and irrigation facility for those lands.
Later, KCR proposed a resolution including a few more groups to the list of Scheduled Tribes.
"The Commission of Inquiry for Scheduled Tribes (STs) had in 2016 recommended the inclusion of the Valmiki Boya, Bedar, Kirataka, Nishadhi, Pedda Boya, Talayari, Chunduvallu and Khaithi Lambada, Bharat Mathura and Chamar Mathura groups to the Scheduled Tribes list, which was accepted by the Telangana government and submitted to the union government. But so far there has been no response in this regard," said the CM. "Therefore, this House unanimously resolves to recommend to the union government the inclusion of these communities to the Scheduled Tribes list."
"Further, the Mali community, which habitates the Adilabad, Kumuram Bheem Asifabad and Mancheriyal districts, has been for several years seeking inclusion to the Scheduled Tribes list. Considering their socioeconomic conditions, this House also resolves unanimously to include them to the Scheduled Tribes list," he added.