Former Union Minister and senior BJP leader Bandaru Dattatreya has represented to the Chief Minister K.Chandrasekhar Rao that the dispute between the Podu cultivators and the Forest officials should not be seen as a law and order problem with piece meal approach.
He demanded a scientific survey and demarcation of Revenue and Forest lands in the State and regularisation of Podu lands and awarding of occupancy rights to the tribals dependent on Podu cultivation in forests for centuries. In a letter addressed to Mr.Chandrasekhar Rao, Mr.Dattatreya said that after promulgation of ‘Forest Conservation Act 1980’, several amendments had been carried out towards regularisation of forest settlements and Podu areas and a cut off date had been decided as 2005. Though an attempt had been made to issue forest rights in favour of large number of tribals and other communities, the whole issue needed to be addressed in letter and spirit.
Out of 66 lakh acres owned by the Forest department, the Revenue department examined only 48 lakh acres as part of Land Reforms Exercise. The government should verify the remaining 18 lakh acres on a war-footing, identify the disputed lands and resolve them, he said.
Though as per the Forest Rights Act, only tribals were eligible to enjoy the forest rights but some landlords and politicians occupied thousands of acres of forest land taking advantage of innocence and illiteracy of tribals, he said.
He demanded protection of forest personnel who enforce Forest Act by providing adequate security. for them and early enactment of a ‘Comprehensive Forest Act’ duly settling the claims and rights of Podu cultivators and forest dwellers.
Mr.Dattatreya said he had received several representations from Yellandu, Garla mandal and other District tribes about the recognition of their Podu lands. He reminded the Chief Minister that he had visited the areas during election campaign and assured the tribals that the Podu lands issue would be resolved at the earliest. However the government did not initiate any policy decision so far.
