MEMO.NO.20940/For.III/90-I
Dated: 20-08-1990

Sub:- A.P.Forest Act. 1967 - Amendment issued to Sec.28 B and 28 of Chapter III-A of the Act. - Amendment to G.O.Ms.No.210, Energy Forests Environment Science & Technology Department, Dt.20-07-1988 - orders - stayed.

1. G.O.Ms.No.210, E.F.E.S., & T Dept.
Dt.20.7.1988.
2. G.O.Ms.No.88, E.F.E.S., & T Dept.
Dt.10.3.1989
3. G.O.Ms.No.105, E.F.E.S. & T
Dept.Dt.9.6.1990.
4. Govt.Memo.No.20940/For.III/90-1
dt.20.8.1990
5. Govt.Telegram No.20940/For.III/90,
dt.20.8.1990.

***

The Stay Orders issued in the Government Memo 4th cited are hereby vacated.

- Express News Service

Hyderabad – The Janardhana Reddy Government has issued orders vacating th stay on felling of trees in the thick forests of Chintalapudi village in Y.Ramavaram mandal of East Godavari District.

The cryptic single-sentence order was issued a few days ago after obtaining the opinion of the Advocate-General. It is learnt.

The order will enable one V.Shankar Reddy, a forest contrctor, to cut trees from the thick forests in an area of 209 hectares. Permissioin to him to do so was granted by the Channa Reddy Government in 1990. But Dr.Reddy stayed implementation of the Government Order (G.O.No.185) which superceded an order issued by the NTR regime prohibiting felling of trees in large numbers and nullifying execution of a power of attorney.

Mr.Shankar Reddy had secured power of attorney from the pattadars was allegedly indulging in illegal tree-felling.

- Indian Express, 31-12-1991

-Express News Service

Hyderabad – Why is the Congress-I Government in Andhra Pradesh so keen on helping a timber "smuggler" who cut down thick forests in Chintalapudi of East Godavari district?

The Government is reportedly in favour of a proposal to withdraw the stay on a Government order permiting feling of trees in the dense foress in Y.Ramavaram mandal. The Channa Reddy Government had in August last year stayed the Government order (No.185) which empowered a power of attorney holder to chop down trees in an extent of 209 hectares.

The issue having come up for review now, the Janardhana Reddy administration is stated to be in favour of withdrawing the stay and allowing a privte contrctor V.Shankar Reddy to fell trees.

The Government order (G.O.) No.185 of 9.7.90 itself was controversial in that it went against an earlier order of 1988 which restricted felling of trees in agency areas to a maximum of Rs.5,000 worth. The order also nullified holding of a power of attorney in the scheduled areas.

CHANNA REVERSED: But the Channa Reddy ministry reversed the earlier orders through G.O.No.185. Ironically, the Chief Minister, Mr.N.Janardhana Reddy was the agriculture and forests ministe at that time and is thus well versed with the issue.

Dense forests cover about 1,400 hectares (3,500 acres) in five villages – Kota, Chintalapudi, Pydiputta, Perikavalasa and Jangalthota – of Y.Ramavram mandal. To protect forests and the Girijans living there, the Government headed by Mr.N.T.Rama Rao had in 1988 issued orders nullifying execution of a power of attorney in the scheduled areas and limiting the felling of trees to only Rs.5,000 worth.

Shankar Reddy had challenged the G.O. in the Andhra Pradesh High Court and even as the issue was pending there, the Government (Channa Reddy) issued the G.O. No.185 allowing him to cut down the trees.

Bowing to public pressure. Dr.Channa Reddy stayed the orders issued during his own regime. A move is now a foot to vacate the stay and allow Shankar Reddy to fell trees.

LITIGANT: The timber contractor has been a regular litigatnt with the Government and has on many occasions cut down vast stretches of forest, taking shelter under court orders. Following suggestions from the Collector of East Godavari district in 1987. The NTR Government through the G.O.210 of 20.7.88 amended th A.P.Forest Act to th effect that "any powr of attorney or letter of authority, or bond, or similar deed executed, or a contract or licence or any other transaction entered into after Jan.1, 1970, by the land owners in favour of or with a person to act on his behalf, or to do any job shall be null and void".

The amendment was on the lines of a similar one by the Madhya Pradesh Government to the M.P.Protection of Aborginal Tribes (interest in trees) Act.

In the tribal areas of East Godavari, several non-tribals have acquired forest lands by entering into one-sided agreements or fraudulently obtaining settlement pattas. There are an approximate 300 such illegl pattas.

As the A.P.Forest Act prohibits the alienation of forest produce without prior sanction of the district colector, many non-tribal forest contrctos obtained power of attorney from the tribals owners by paying paltry sums and applying for permission for felling of trees.

Shankar Reddy is stated to be holding power of attorney on behalf of 18 different owners. Having applied for permission to fell trees, he approached the A.P.High Court in 1985 when the Collector rejected his application. The court upheld the orders of the Collector that growth of trees in agnecy areas should be diveloped. The case has been under litigation since then.

- Indian Express, December 29, 1991

-Indian Express, Dated: 02-01-1992

Express News Service

Hyderabad – The AP High Court on Tuesday stayed the felling of trees by Mr.V.Shankar Reddy in Chintalapudi forest in Y.Ramavaram mandal in East Godavari district. The interim orders were passed by Justice P.L.N.Sharma while disposing of a miscellaneious interim petition filed by Dr.P.Sivaramakrishna on behalf "Sakthi", a voluntary organisation working for the tribals in the Godavari valley.

Mr.Shankar Reddy, who obtained a general power of attorney from pattedars, secured an exemptioin from the State Government which enabled him to fell trees in the forest.

When "Shakti" filed a writ petition challenging the exemption last year, the State Government informed the High Court that the exemption given to Mr.Shankar Reddy weas withdrawn. In December, the Government vacated the stay orders.