Podu Land Retrieval Triggers Fresh Standoff Between Farmers, Forest Officials
Farmers have said they have been cultivating these lands for decades and depend on them for livelihood
ADILABAD: Tension has escalated between podu cultivators and forest officials in parts of the erstwhile Adilabad district over retrieval of podu lands under the Forest Lands Retrieval Programme.
Incidents have been reported from Penchikalpet and Bejjur mandals in Komaram Bheem Asifabad district and from Kadam mandal in Nirmal district following recent rains, with both sides preparing for cultivation and plantation activities.
While podu farmers are readying fields for sowing, forest officials have begun reclaiming lands and initiating plantation work. Cultivators have opposed trenching activity taken up with earthmovers, alleging it affects their agricultural operations.
Farmers have said they have been cultivating these lands for decades and depend on them for livelihood. Forest officials maintain that the lands fall under forest jurisdiction.
A dispute intensified in Devudupalli Forest Beat in Kerameri mandal of Komaram Bheem Asifabad district, where officials tried to take possession of about 150 hectares of podu land on the outskirts of Surdapur village.
Farmers from Surdapur and Savarkheda villages alleged they have been cultivating the land for nearly 50 years and said they were denied access for the past 20 days, with trenches being dug around the area.
Separately, forest officials are reported to have objected to construction of Indiramma houses in Adivasi habitations located in reserve forest areas.
Differences have also surfaced between elected representatives from ST constituencies, including Boath, Khanapur and Asifabad, and forest officials over housing works, indicating an ongoing standoff on land use and development issues.
