Forest officials destroy cotton crop in podu lands in Kothagudem

In Telangana’s Chandrugonda mandal, forest department personnel allegedly destroyed cotton crops cultivated on podu lands, leading to outrage among tribal farmers. Claiming a loss of Rs 50,000 per acre, the farmers plan to pursue legal action against the officials.

Kothagudem: Forest department officials allegedly destroyed cotton crops in podu lands at Ravikampadu in Chandrugonda mandal on Tuesday night.

According to reports, around 150 forest personnel entered the fields and cut down the cotton crop using knives and axes. Podu farmers Guguloth Lali and Tejawath Saroja said they found the crop uprooted and slashed when they went to their fields on Wednesday morning.

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The farmers said they had been cultivating the podu lands for the past 20 years and alleged that the officials caused grave injustice by destroying a crop that was ready for harvest.

They said they invested Rs 50,000 per acre and their entire investment was lost. The farmers said they would take legal action against the forest officials.