Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has asserted that there is no cause of concern about the Supreme Court's recent judgement directing eviction of forest dwellers from their locations.
The Chief Minister said the judgement is applicable for such Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers whose claims of lands in forest areas under the Recognition of Forest Rights Act had been rejected.
The government is firm on identifying the genuine forest dwellers to ensure that their interests are protected.
Acknowledging reports on harassment of tribes by the police and forest department officials, he said steps had been taken to ensure that records of these lands are set right.
“There has to be an end to this. A cut off date has to be fixed for identifying the genuine dwellers so that their interests are not harmed,” the Chief Minister said in reply to the debate during the passage of the Appropriation Bill in the Legislative Assembly on Monday.
Mr. Rao said though his government had specific plans to address these issues, they could not be put into action in view of the model code of conduct which is operational in the State.
“No decisions can be taken till June as the model code will be in operation. I prefer to personally go to field and interact with the tribes in this regard,” he said.
Responding to the charges made by Opposition leader Mallu Bhattivikramarka that the Land Record Updation Programme, a flagship programme of the government, was far from completion, he said the government is committed for the completion of the programme and work is under progress to ensure issuance of clear titles to all lands.
He asserted that Telangana is the torch bearer for the country in terms of land record updation and “we are working to ensure that all the problems relating to land records are addressed within the next one year.”
“There are certain legacy issues that need to be addressed while dealing with the Part B of land record updation programme,” he said.
The government is therefore contemplating to utilise latest GIS based technologies as well as the help from the Central agencies for clear demarcation of lands to address these issues. “The process may take time, but my government is committed to evolve a permanent solution to the issue,” he said.
