The conflict between podu farmers and forest officials has resurfaced in Kumram Bheem Asifabad district. Farmers alleged harassment over trench digging and land retrieval, while forest officials maintained that the measures were necessary for wildlife conservation and boundary demarcation
In Medipalli village of Sirpur (T) mandal, Forest officials stopped the construction of 75 houses under the Indiramma housing scheme, citing that the land identified by the Revenue department falls within a reserve forest.
The respondents in the case, the forest department, district Collector and Bhadrachalam ITDA PO failed to file a counter in three hearings while the government pleader tried to establish the tribal farmers as encroachers.
