Cabinet to consider bottlenecks

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, JULY 31. The State Government has begun an exercise to identify the bottlenecks in the distribution of lands to the landless in the extremist-dominated districts.

A note to be prepared by the General Administration Department (GAD), based on the inputs from Forest, Revenue, Social and Backward Classes Welfare Departments, would be put up before the State Cabinet next week for a detailed discussion, the Home Minister, Mr. T. Devendar Goud, disclosed here on Wednesday.

Addressing a press conference after chairing a high- level meeting on the issue, Mr. Goud maintained that the issue of land should be the core element in anti-extremist schemes. Police alone should not be expected to solve the extremist problem in the State. ``For various reasons, large tracts of cultivable land are lying fallow. Even some lands distributed by the Government are not being cultivated,'' Mr. Goud observed while stressing on the need to evolve an effective system of land distribution.

Mr. Goud pointed out that over 50,000 acres of cultivable land was lying fallow in Karimnagar district. There were some legal hurdles like transfer of the title deeds for the lands given away by the Government. ``If need be, we will have to amend the law in this regard. The Cabinet will discuss all these issues thoroughly and take a decision,'' he replied to a question.

The Home Minister repeatedly asserted that other Government departments would have to be actively engaged in the exercise to eradicate the extremist problem. The Government would also have to increase the money allocation for purchase of lands. Mr. Goud felt that the ITDAs should be strengthened and more funds allotted to them. Replying to questions, Mr. Goud favoured the introduction of an inexpensive dispute resolution method at the village level to ensure speedy justice. For, police are not helpful. Besides, villagers do not have enough money to engage advocates to fight the cases in a court of law.

To a question on holding talks with the extremist parties, Mr. Goud stuck to the Government stand that it was ever ready to negotiate with anyone who was interested in public welfare. ``We are initiating some positive steps to solve people's problems. Everyone is welcome to participate in this. The Press could also participate in this exercise,'' Mr. Goud retorted.

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Section  : Southern States
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