Tribal encroachments will not be tolerated, podu land distribution only with conditions: KCR

HYDERABAD: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) on Friday asserted that encroachment of tribal lands in the name of podu cultivation in the State would not be tolerated in future. While expressing his displeasure over the violence of Guthi Koyala tribe in the name of safeguarding their rights, he made it clear that the podu lands would not be distributed until the tribals agreed to the conditions laid out by the Government.

After moving a resolution in the Telangana State Assembly deploring the Centre’s delay in including a few classes of the tribals in Scheduled Tribes, the Chief Minister reiterated his government’s commitment to playing the balancing act between protecting the interests of the tribals and safeguarding the forest resources.

KCR emphatically stated that the State Government would henceforth adopt an uncompromising policy against the felling of forest trees and declared that encroachment of forest lands under the guise of podu cultivation would not be tolerated.

In this context, he referred to the recent killing of Khammam forest ranger Srinivasa Rao at the hands of Guthi Koyala tribesmen. Denouncing this tendency of using violence by the tribals, he warned them with sternest of action if they resorted to such physical attacks.

“Who killed forest official Srinivasa Rao? Is this type of violence justifiable? The State Government had to come to the rescue of the forest officer’s family with a compensation of Rs 50 lakh. Tribals should also understand that they cannot continue to have a free licence to cut off forest areas and resort to violence when it is resisted.

“The State Government has no objection to distribute the podu lands to the tribals. But, let me make it clear, we will not give lands to them until they agree to the terms set by the State Government. The lands will be distributed to those who will be certified by people at various levels right from a sarpanch. The tribals will also have to give an undertaking that they would not fell the trees. Lands will be taken back from those who violate this undertaking,” KCR said.

The Chief Minister said that the State Government was ready with a survey report on the ways and means of distributing the podu lands to the tribals. Of the total 66 lakh acres of forest lands, the State Government has readied plans to distribute 11.5 lakh acres to the tribals but only when they agree to the conditions laid out by the government, he added.

While also expressing empathy towards the tribals, KCR announced that those tribals who did not get these lands would be extended the benefits of schemes like Dalit Bandhu and Girijana Bandhu. He also chided opposition parties for frequently trying to use the tribal podu land issue for their vested political mileage. He also came down heavily on the trend of some upper caste people marrying tribal women with an eye on the precious podu lands.

He also referred to incidents of excesses on the part of the forest officials as well. “There will be no question of podu hereafter,” he said while urging the forest officials to exercise maximum restraint to avoid frequent skirmishes.