Date:06/09/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/09/06/stories/2007090657790500.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Tribals occupy 70 acres of land

Santosh Patnaik

‘Bhooporatam’ second phase launched in Agency

Special Commissioner appointment termed eyewash
Autonomous panel only way out

LOUD AND CLEAR: CPI (M) State secretary B.V. Raghavulu beating ‘dappu’ to mark launching of ‘bhoo poratam’ at Katumanivala in Kasipatnam panchayat of Visakhapatnam district on Wednesday.

TYDA (VISAKHAPATNAM DT): CPI(M) State secretary and Polit Bureau member B.V. Raghavulu on Wednesday launched the second phase of ‘bhooporatam’ (land struggle) in the tribal areas and termed the appointment of D. Sambasiva Rao as the Special Commissioner to oversee implementation of Koneru Ranga Rao Committee recommendations eyewash.

Tilling the land at Tummanavalasa hamlet and beating the ‘dappu’ (drum) at Katumanivalasa in Kasimpeta panchayat of Anantagiri mandal marked the occupation of nearly 70 acres of land by the tribals in the presence of Mr. Raghavulu.

The tribals carrying red flags occupied 30 acres now under the alleged possession of Setti Gangadhar, a Congress leader at Tummanavalasa and 40 acres earmarked for Vana Samrakshana Samiti at Katumanivalasa near Tyda in Anantagiri mandal.

False promises

Mr. Raghavulu said several tribal leaders and non-tribals had grabbed lands under the possession of poor tribals with false promises and declared that the CPI(M) would support the poor tribals till they get their lands back.

“The agency is yours and you have every right to occupy and live happily,” he told them and mentioned that the Centre had enacted legislation to regularise forestlands occupied by Girijans.

The CPI M) leader said they were not happy with the appointment of an IAS officer to oversee the recommendations of Mr. Ranga Rao and pointed out how he recommended restoration of lands belonging to tribals, scrapping of settlements on lands captured by non-tribals during 1972-76 and treating as invalid stamp paper agreements on sale of lands.

He said Mr. Sambasiva Rao, an IAS officer, would not be in a position to give any directive on enforcement of the Ranga Rao panel recommendations due to fear of drawing the wrath of higher-ups. Hence, an autonomous commission was the only answer, he said.

CPI (M) district secretary Ch. Narsinga Rao, Araku ZPTC Killo Surendra and others spoke.