SC, ST commission member tours Asifabad over podu land issue

An SC, ST Commission member visited Karjelli village in Kumram Bheem Asifabad district to probe allegations against forest officials over boundary marking and trench digging affecting 50 Dalit families dependent on podu cultivation. The families alleged that their livelihood was being threatened

Kumaram Bheem Asifabad: A member of the SC, ST Commission toured Karjelli village to probe the marking of boundaries by the Forest department, which affected 50 families from weaker sections dependent on podu or shifting cultivation, on Tuesday.

Shankar, a member of the commission, visited the disputed agricultural fields belonging to Dalit families in the village. He inquired why forest officials were digging trenches to fix boundaries between forest and revenue lands. He gathered details of the issue by speaking to officials of both departments.

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He assured the families that he would address the issue and ensure justice by bringing it to the notice of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy soon.

The commission responded to a complaint lodged by the families alleging that forest officials were marking the boundaries. They claimed that they had been cultivating the lands for a long time. They said the officials suddenly started digging trenches, affecting their livelihood. They regretted that cases were booked against them for cultivating crops on the lands.