Date:15/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/15/stories/2008051554470600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Stage set for alienation of forest lands

Staff Reporter

BHADRACHALAM: The stage has been set for alienation of forest land to the tribal communities in some 16 tribal villages of Bhadrachalam division immediately. Boddugudem village is one among them.

The process is in progress in rest of the district.

Principal Secretary ( Tribal Welfare) V. Nagi Reddy, who had a field level meeting with tribal beneficiaries at Boddugudem on Wednesday, wanted the village-level forest rights committees and the machinery tasked with the responsibility of social mobilisation to speed up the process.

He said recognition of the rights of the tribal communities over the forestlands that had been under occupation since December 13, 2005 must be completed before July next. He said claims were yet to be received from many beneficiaries. He said the tribal communities could stake claim for the land not only in the notified forests but also in the reserve forests if it happened to be in their enjoyment before December 13, 2005.