Date:02/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/02/stories/2008110251080200.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Adilabad top in forestland regularisation

Staff Reporter

1.10 lakh acres identified for regularisation
28,400 tribal families to benefit from regularisation

ADILABAD: Labour Minister G. Vinod on Saturday said Adilabad district stood first in Andhra Pradesh while the State was leading in making preparations for implementation of the regularisation of forestland for STs and other forest dwellers. He said it was due to the effort of district administration that such a distinction was possible.

In his speech in connection with the Andhra Pradesh Formation Day celebrations here, the Minister said the government had identified 1.10 lakh acres of land to be regularised under the Act. He said 28,400 tribal families would benefit out of such regularisation.

Panels appointed

Identification of land was made possible through the Forest Act Committees appointed in villages. Besides, 200 surveyors had toiled to identify and demarcate the land to be regularised.

Referring to the epidemic control exercise in Adilabad district, Mr. Vinod said the five mandals in which there was spread of seasonal diseases, were subjected to special drives to control the epidemic. He complimented the administration for succeeding in arresting the spread of diseases in tribal areas.

Adilabad legislator C. Ramchander Reddy, Collector Ahmad Nadeem and Superintendent of Police Anil Kumar and others attended the celebrations. The Minister also visited stalls on developmental activity by respective departments. School children presented a cultural programme.