Controversy over the ownership of 2.8 acres of reserve forest land at the 7th Mile on the Ooty - Mysore Road in The Nilgiris came to an end on Wednesday after persons from the Toda community who had encroached it admitted that the land belonged to the Forest Department.
Over the last three weeks there were tense moments at the said piece of grasslands in the Reserve Forest attached to Kuruthukuli beat in Udhagai South Range, adjoining a Toda hamlet. The six families living there had claimed that the land belonged to them. They claimed that they were using it to graze cattle for decades. The problem was at its peak as they removed a board put by the department and also fenced it last weekend.
Survey
Following the turn of events, the tribal families and the forest department agreed to a survey on the controversial piece of land. On Wednesday two surveyors conducted a survey in the presence of revenue and forest officials and a few representatives of the Toda community in that hamlet.
“The 33.14 acres Toda patta land earmarked for them by the British to cultivate, graze cattle and build houses for their personal use was demarked. The 2.8 acres encroached by them was marked and tribals admitted that they encroached it as their population increased and pointed out the need for more land,” Ranger B. Rajesh said.
The officer said that the tribal families also agreed to give it in writing on Thursday that the piece of land does not belong to them. “Further course of action for trespass and encroachment of forest land will be initiated after discussing with senior Forest department officials,” he added.
