15 HURT IN TRIBAL, NON-TRIBAL CLASH

Express News Service

Indian Express, November 7, 1998

Sattupalli (Khammam) Nov, 6:

At least 15 persons were injured in a clash between Tribals and non-Tribals in the agency village of Malkaram of the district this morning.

According to information available a fresh altercation in connection with a dispute regarding the ownership of a banana orchid worsened things between two groups of Tribals and non-Tribals in the village. Trouble broke out when Ankita Pullaiah, a non-tribal farmer who was departing with a heavy banana load on a tractor from the orchid to sell them at Palvoncha was halted by about 40 Tribals led by Punem Ramesh, Soyam Bujji and Karam Bujji.

They insisted but the load could not be carried away until the dispute over the ownership of the orchard was decided. They also attempted to take possession of the banana load prompting the intervention of about 30 non-Tribals were trying to patch up, the Tribals had reportedly launched an attack with knives, sticks and stones leading to a free-for-all battle.

Soyam Venkateswara Rao, Kollu Punachandra Rao, Challa Ramakrishna, Nallapu Mallikharjuna Rao, Nallapu Vera Venkaiah, Kollu Chandrasekhara Rao and Tarimella Bhupathi Rao - all non-Tribals and Punem Ramulu, Madakam Muthyalu, Venka Ramadas, Karam Mutyalu, Kurasam Veeranna and three other tribals were injured in the clash. All the injured were admitted to Sattupalli Government hospital. Dammapet police have registered a case and investigation is on.

The Hindu, April 12, 1998

TRIBAL REJECT MINISTER'S RESETTLEMENT PLAN

By Our Staff Reporter

ASWARAOPET (Khammam dist) April 11.

A sincere effort made by the district Minister, Mr. Tummala Nageswara Rao, and district officials on Friday to bring down the hill kondareddi Tribals who have been living far away from development in Gogulapudi village of Aswaraopet mandal ended in a fiasco with the denizens bluntly refusing to desert their ancestral place. "We live in nature and prefer to die in its lap," said, 55-years-old Gangi Reddy, the village head. He made it clear to the Minster that development should help better their lives instead of depriving them of their means of livelihood.

He wanted the authorities to provide basic amenities, including safe drinking water, in the village instead of asking them to leave it.

The Minister enquired about the socio-economic status of each family. He said that the Integrated Tribal Development Agency could provide them facilities as part of rehabilitation package by constructing a housing colony.

Some of the village youths have evinced interesting availing themselves of the benefits being offered by the ITDA under the tribal development Programme but the aged and disabled members of the village did not appreciate their idea of leaving the village.

As a result the Minister asked the officials who accompanied him to the village to set up a primary school on a priority basis.

TRIBAL VILLAGES REMAIN TENSE

By Our Staff Reporter

The Hindu November 8, 1998

DAMMAPET, (Khammam dist), Nov. 7

Situation in the villages of Dammapet revenue mandal continued to be tense on Saturday. Both the tribal and non-tribal groups which involved in the clashes mobilized their supporters in a big way fearing retaliatory attacks. The Joint Colector, Mr. Mohd Ali Rafat, held discussions with leaders of both the groups after which the groups left peacefully.

Police pickets were posted at Malkaram and Gangulagudem villages and additional forces were deployed all along the route to the villages. Cases were registered against 50 persons in connection with the clashed between the tribal and non-tribal farmers. The collector, Mr. A. Giridhar and the Superintendent of Police Mr. P.S.R. Anjeneylu, also reached Dammapet to take stock of the situation.

The Minister for Major Irrigation, Mr. Tummala Nageswra Rao, visited the district headquarters hospital and consoled the injured persons. He reviewed the developments with the police and revenue officials at the Dammapet mandal revenue office before going round the affected villages. At Gangulavarigudem, the Tribals appraised him of the developments.

UNCERTAINTY OVER LAND SURVEY IN TWO MANDALS

By Our Staff Reporter

The Hindu, July 23, 1998

KHAMMAM, July 21.

Efforts being made by the administration to identify the land under illegal occupation of the non-tribal farmers in the scheduled area villages of Dammapet and Aswaraopet mandals in Khammam district are scuttled by the dearth of surveyors. As a result, uncertainty looms large over the completion of the survey exercise before the deadline of August 8 set by the Tribals

The problem is persisting due to lack of experienced people to ensure qualitative survey. When the tribal agitation was at its peak, the surveyors hesitated to take up the assignment. Those who shouldered the responsibility were forced to give it up within a day or two.

Though the Tribals are now firm on extending all cooperation to the administration, the surveyor are not readily available. At any point of time there were not more than four to five surveyors at work in each mandal. The Revenue Department thought of drafting some surveyors from neighbouring districts like Nalgonda, but it did not materialize.

Some of the surveyors engaged in the two mandals are fresh recruits. One of them deputed to Naravarigudem village recently took more than one full day for surveying nine acres. The tardy progress in some of the villages is due to hurdles posed by the tribal and non-tribal sections. The Tribals had accused the surveyors of siding with the landlords.

In order to dispel their fears, the revenue officials suggested to the Tribals leaders to keep their own surveyors, preferably those from within the district, to point out errors or omissions right on the spot. But they are also finding it difficult to have surveyors of their choice for the purpose.

Despite all the odds, the department could complete survey of 1, 656 acres in the two mandals till Tuesday. Altogether, 1, 613 acres thus taken over from the farmers were distributed to the Tribals beneficiaries well before they suspended the agitation on July 8 to facilitate speedy completion of the survey work.

In Aswaraopet mandal, about 120 acres were readily available for distribution. The administration id keen on distributing a minimum of 300 acres on July 26 to install confidence among the tribal.