Minister Konda Surekha Asks Adivasi Not To Violate Forest Acts
The minister promised to take steps to remove the hurdles coming in the way of Indiramma houses being constructed in forest areas. However, she told the Adivasi that they cannot violate the central forest acts, rules and regulations.
KESLAPUR: Endowments’ minister Konda Surekha on Thursday said Nagoba Jatara is the second biggest tribal festival after Medaram Sammakka Saralamma. She asserted that she will make serious efforts to provide all essential facilities at the Nagoba Temple, which is visited by lakhs of devotees.
Addressing the traditional Nagoba Darbar at Keslapur Indravelli, Surekha assured that salaries will be paid to nine staff of Nagoba Temple for performing the Dhoopa Dipa Naivedyam to the God. She asked the area’s ITDA project officer to enter the petitions received during the darbar into the computer and try to resolve the issues. In case there are any glitches, she wanted the officer the refer the issue to the heads of respective departments and ministers.
The minister promised to take steps to remove the hurdles coming in the way of Indiramma houses being constructed in forest areas. However, she told the Adivasi that they cannot violate the central forest acts, rules and regulations. But she went on to assure them she will do everything to clear the construction of the 500 Indiramma houses in forest areas of the Adilabad district.
On the occasion, Surekha appealed to the state government to declare the Nagoba Jatara as a state festival. She said she will take up the issue with Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy. In addition, she said she will make efforts to get ₹22 crore released for the development of Nagoba Temple.
Khanapur MLA Vedma Bojju said the state government is giving top priority to education among Adivasi. He referred to the Young India Integrated School sanctioned to his constituency.
Adilabad MLA Payal Shankar said he will try to resolve problems of the Adivasi with support from the central government.
Adilabad collector Rajarshi Shah said ₹156 crore have been released for construction of as many as16,405 Indiramma houses in the district.
Thousands of devotees from across Telangana and bordering states, including Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, thronged the Nagoba Jatara and had the darshan of the Serpentine God.
District authorities declared a holiday for the darbar on Thursday. Those present included superintendent of police Akhil Mahajan, DFO Prashanth Bajirao Patil, ITDA project officer Yuvraj Marmat, additional SP Kajal Singh, Keslapur sarpanch Mesram Tukaram, and Congress leaders Naresh Jadhav, DCC president, Gandrath Sujatha and Srikanth Reddy, Nagoba Temple Peethadhipati Venkatrao, and temple chairman Anand Rao.