Tour notes of the Special Officer for survey of tribal lands and assignment to tribals in Khammam district

TOUR NOTES OF THE SPECIAL OFFICER FOR SURVEY OF TRIBAL LANDS AND ASSIGNMENT TO TRIBALS, HYDERABAD

NAME OF THE DISTRICT TOURED : KHAMMAM
DATES OF THE TOUR : 20 th July to 22 nd July 1990

As per the tentative tour programme communicated in advance I had gone to Khammam District. The District Collector, Khammam was kind enough to convene a meeting to discuss survey and settlement problems in the agency areas. Joint Collector, Conservator of Forest, D.F.O.s, Assistant Director Survey and Lands records. (Regular and Special) TGMS staff, Special Dy.Collector, (Tribal Welfare) attended the meeting on 20-07-90. The following items were discussed.

1) JOINT VERIFICATION OF FOREST AND REVENUE BOUNDARIES IN THE AGENCY AREA

There are 5 forest divisions in Khammam Dist.:

In total there are 340 Forest Blocks in 5 forest divisions of Khammam District. The joint verification is taken up only in Bhadrachalam south Forest Division. The joint verification of forest and revenue boundaries work was started in August 1988 and continued upto April 1989. The work was withheld thereafter as the forest officials were engaged in Beedi Leaf Collection season. The work was again taken up from February 1990. So far 446 Kms in length covering the location work to an approximate of area 12,792 acres for 2078 beneficiaries and the balance work is under progress. The Joint verification work is being undertaken by a team consisting of two foresters and one Revenue Inspector from TGMS and 3 Deputy Surveyors. The Joint verification work in other 4 divisions has not yet started. The Dist. Collector is taking necessary steps to get the work commenced; the team was instructed to follow the instructions and guidelines issued by the principal Chief Conservator of Forest, A.P., Hyderabad vide Ref.No.125720/88, Dt.16.8.89. The Project Officer, Integrated Tribal Development Agency Paloncha is requested to follow it up and see that good progress is made.

Conservator of Forest, Khammam has stated that the requirement of funds for fixation of boundary pillars and cairns will be to the tune of Rs.22,34,150 and for the present he requires 4 lakhs; this issue will be discussed with Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Hyderabad and further action will be persued. Regarding Pre.1980 cultivation within the RF Principal CCF has already issued detailed guidelines vide Ref.No.125720/88-01, dt.16-8-89 wherein it was mentioned that the following records may be taken in identifying the occupations prior to 1980.

a) Latest map of Survey of India.
b) Forest Offences of encroachments registered up to 1980.
c) Electoral rolls.
d) Census enumeration data.
e) Revenue records.

Further local enquiry would also help in determining whether the encroachment is prior to 1980 or after. The Project Officer, I.T.D.A., Paloncha should take follow up action by taking the cooperation of forest, revenue and survey in this regard.

2) INTERNAL SURVEY AND SUB DIVISIONAL WORK

In Khammam Dist. there are 904 villages (notified/ Sub-plan villages); the details furnished are as follows:

1. Total Govt. land estimated to be available 4,04,621.00
2. Location work done on Govt. land. 2,00,225.00
3. Area unfit for cultivations 1,07,256.00
4. Area Surveyed and sub-divided upto June'90 92,969.00
5. Balance area to be surveyed 2,04,395.00

The Special Survey Officer Officer of Paloncha has surveyed and sub-divided 92,969 acres covering 31,658 cases up to June 1990. The balance area is up to be surveyed and Sub-divided.

The following posts are vacant as on 20-7-90:

1. A.D.(S & LR) Spl.Survey Unit.
2. 37 Deputy Surveyers.
3. 1 Senior Assistant
4. 3 Junior Assistant.
5. 1 C.D. Grade
6. 1 Typist.
7. 1 Jeep Driver.

Further the Inspector who is holding F.A.C. Assistant Director is gong to retire by next month. Unless these posts are filled up it is difficult to expect the results/achievement of targets as envisaged.

3. ASSIGNMENT UNDER T.G.M.S. SCHEME

Out of 92,969 acres surveyed and sub divided 50,698 acres had been assigned to 16,360 tribal beneficiaries and 24,576 acres is found to be under the encroachment of non-tribals numbering 10,371 and the balance area is under verification of the eligibility for assignment to tribals. Though 50,698 acres have been assigned no supplementary sethwar was issued by the District Maintenance Unit; the reason advanced by A.D. (S & LR) regular was that the Revenue authorities have already assigned some land earlier; the present assignment proposal does not include the previous assignment made. Therefore when the supplementary sethwar is to be issued for the entire area this has got to be included by the Revenue authorities; this issue was discussed with the District Collector and he issued suitable instruction to include this and see that supplementary sethwar is issued. The Project Officer, I.T.D.A., Paloncha should instruct the AD Special Survey unit to furnish the detailed particulars to Ad (S & LR) regular and see that the supplementary sethwars are issued. Unless the supplementary sethwar is issued it cannot be implemented in Jamabhandi Revenue records and village map is updated; therefore it is essential that this is done immediately.

The TGMS staff was sanctioned vide G.O.Ms.No.758 Revenue (B1) Department, Dt.1.7.86 with the following Staff sanctioned. Deputy Tahsildhar 4, Senior Revenue Inspectors4, Senior Assistants 4, Senior Revenue Inspectors 4, Senior Assistants 4, Junior Assistants 4, Typists 4, Record Assistants 4, Attenders 4.

The Govt. vide G.O.Ms.No.400 Revenue (B1) Department, Dt.31.5.88 had sanctioned the following staff under TGMS. Deputy Tahsildhar 1, Senior Revenue Inspectors 8, Senior Assistants 2, Junior Assistants 3, Attenders 4. In View of the availability of the large chunks of Govt., lands which are to be surveyed and sub divided on which TGMS staff to conduct the enquiries, the Dist. Collector, Khammam has submitted proposals to Commissioner land Revenue, Hyderabad vide D.O.Rc.No.B4/9070/88, Dt.24.2.90 with a request to sanction the entire staff as envisaged in G.O.Ms.No.758 cited above; this is very important issue and we have to pursue the matter with the Govt. and see that the orders are obtained so that the tribal would get maximum advantage because the survey and sub division work in tribal areas.

4) IMPLEMENTION OF A.P. SCHEDULED AREA LAND TRANSFER REGULATION: 1959:

This item was reviewed with the Special Deputy Collector, (Tribal Welfare) Paloncha; Collector has given suitable instructions to SDC (T.W.) to take up necessary action. In respect of 8,050 cases covering an extent of 28,748 acres decreed in favour of tribals the entire land has been handed over to tribals; with respect to 594 cases wherein non-tribals are reported to have re-occupied the lands from which they have been ejected under LTR; action is being taken under 6A. Dist. Collector has issued instructions to the Police Officers to persue the cases and provide protection to the tribals; it was also agreed to take up physical verification of old and new cases on a priority basis.

On 21-7-89 The District Collector and I have proceeded to Paloncha and reviewed survey and TGMS work and verified the survey records prepared by the A.D. (S & LR) Spl. Survey unit, Paloncha; from there we went to Bhadrachalam area and had discussions with RDO Bhadrachalam who is looking after the settlement operations for the present. The following are the details on the settlement work in Bhadrachalam area.

5) SETTLEMENT OPERATIONS IN BHADRACHALAM DIVISION

The Estate, Government and Free hold villages of erestwhile Bhadrachalam and Nugur taluks are covered by A.P.Scheduled Areas Ryotwari Settlement Regulation 2/70. The Mahal and Free held villages of erestwhile Nugur taluk are covered by A.P. (Mahal Regulation 1/69.)

The number of villages of estates, Government freehold and mahal in Bhadrachalam division are as follows:

The details of patta enquiry work are as follows:

•  182 estate villages of erstwhile Bhadrachalam taluk under Regulation 2/70.

II. 162 Govt.villages and 10 Free hold villages in respect of erstwhile Bhadrachalam taluk under Regulation 2/70.

III. 87 Mahal and 3 free hold villages of erstwhile Nugur taluk under Regulation 1/69.

IV. 112 Govt.Villages of erstwhile Nugur taluk under Regulation 2/70.

Cases Pending for Patta Enquiry ... 29
Cases remanded for re-enquiry ... 76

Two interesting cases came to our notice; in Jeediguppa village of V.R.Puram Mandal 5 non tribals were allowed pattas covering 30 acres where as tribals are in possession and enjoyment of the said lands. In another case of Sabari Kotha Gudem village covering an area of 101 acres non tribals have got the settlement pattas whereas tribals are in continuous occupation and enjoyment of the above area.

We had further proceeded to Nellipaka, Gowridevipeta visited primary Health Centres to check up the presence of Medical teams; after wards we went to Marrigudem, Koonavaram, Rudramkota villages. The District Collector was making necessary arrangements of Special teams of doctors to contain the Malaria epedamic break-out in the tribal areas; came back to Bhadrachalam, night halt at Bhadrachalam; on 22nd we have reviewed the work of Tribal Cultural Research & Training Institute, Regional Office Bhadrachalam and proceeded to Burgampadu M.R.O.'s Office. Later came back to Hyderabad via Khammam.

(P.SUBRAHMANYAM)

SPECIAL OFFICER
SURVEY OF TRIBAL LANDS
AND ASSIGNMENT TO TRIBALS