TS committed to find permanent solution for podu issue: KTR

Rajanna-Sircilla: Sircilla MLA and MAUD Minister KT Rama Rao, in a meeting organised on Podu lands and forest rejuvenation along with the representatives of all political parties, public representatives of eight mandals and officials in the Collectorate conference hall here on Saturday, said that the State government was committed to take all possible steps to […]

Rajanna-Sircilla: Sircilla MLA and MAUD Minister KT Rama Rao, in a meeting organised on Podu lands and forest rejuvenation along with the representatives of all political parties, public representatives of eight mandals and officials in the Collectorate conference hall here on Saturday, said that the State government was committed to take all possible steps to find a permanent solution to Podu lands.

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that out of the 4.72 lakh acres of land in the district, 20 percent (about 96,394 acres) forest land was spread in 67 gram panchayats limits ant that tribals and non-tribals were doing podu cultivation in about 8,000 acres of forest land. The State government has decided to solve forest lands issues by organising awareness programmes in all 67 villages, he said. The village wise awareness programmes will start from November 8, he informed and added that another all party meeting would be organized with the data collected in village level meetings.

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During the meeting, representations would be accepted from the farmers who were in occupation and decisions would be taken based on the eligibility and actual situation prevailed in the grass route level, he informed.

He reiterated that a pledge would also be administered with farmers, who were allocated forest lands stating that they would not occupy forest lands in future. He instructed the officials to constitute Forest Rights Committees at village level and Forest Protection Committees at district level.

Stating that it was the responsibility of everybody to protect forest, he said that ecological balance was possible if there was 33 percent forest cover. Informing that the meeting was conducted irrespective of politics, he sought the cooperation of all political parties. If there was any problem, both forest and revenue officials should conduct a joint survey and solve the problem, he opined. The Union government has provided rights to tribals on forest lands by bringing the Forest Rights Act in 2005-06. However, it has become a hurdle for non-tribals.

The Minister informed the all party delegation to the union government to find a solution to the issue by bringing the issue to the notice of the center. For the first time in the country, Dharani was successfully operated in the state. So far, more than 10 lakh registrations were done. Informing to take up digital survey of the lands, he said that it was possible to get accurate measurements of lands with the help of latitudes and longitude.

Vemulawada MLA Ch Ramesh Babu said podu land issue was pending decades together. Emphasizing the need to increase 10 percent forest cover in the district, he sought the cooperation of people in protection of forest. Besides finding a permanent solution to the podu lands issue, it was also necessary to protect forest and rights of poor farmers.

MLA Rasamai Balkishan, Zilla Parishad Chairperson N Aruna, TASCAB chairman Konduri Ravinder Rao, Collector Anurag Jayanthi, Superintendent of Police Rahul Hegde, Additional Collector B Satyaprasad, district forest officer Balamani, in-charge DRO T Srinivas Rao and others participated in the meeting.

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