1,600 acres of land ready for
tribal distribution in scheduled area

Sunday, February 16, 1997.

Eluru, Feb 15: All is set for the distribution of 1,600 acres of government land identified so far in scheduled area of Jeelugumilli, Buttayigudem and Polavaram mandals and the tribal leaders were asked to furnish the eligible list of beneficiaries, said Joint Collector, Mr. M. Subrahmanyam to newsmen on Saturday.

He added the survey process is still going on to identify the unauthorized enjoyment of government land by the non-tribals.

According to some sources the prevailing situation in the agency area is different. The new entrants in the agency area-- Andhra Pradesh Civil Liberties Committee (APCLC) had raised voice supporting the tribals' demands.

The CPM Shakti and Prajapandha are already in the arena to win the confidence of the tribals.

The Telugu Desam Tribal MLA, Mr. Singannadora who was isolated by a section of his own men is now on trail of regaining his lost grip.

The district administration is calling the tribal leaders to furnish the eligible list to allot the 1,600 acres of land.

The tribals are on a look out to get this land after a year's agitation. Further the parties in the arena demand to assign land to the tribals affiliated to their party. Added to this there is a feeling that big tribal landlords were not touched in this survey and it is said that the government land is under the unauthorised occupation of these tribal landlords.

The proposal to survey on the non-scheduled Koyyalagudem mandal will create new hopes among the tribals living in Jangareddigudem mandal and the adjacent plain mandals.

The district officials were compelled to spend more time in the scheduled area to settle the tribal and non-tribal problems and making them tired and left few hours a day to think about the problems in other parts of the district.

1500 acres of Govt. land
under occupation of non-tribals

Tuesday, February 25, 1997.

Eluru, Feb 24: The Special teams comprising Special Deputy Collectors and Surveyors completed the identification of benami occupations in 12 villages of Jeelugumilli mandal and three villages of Buttayigudem mandal and found that 1,500 acres of land under Assessed Waste Dry Poramboke Land Transfer Regulations Act (LTR 1/70) Land Ceiling Act etc. was under unauthorised occupation land taken possession, said District Collector, Mr. D. Ramakrishna.

`He revealed that nearly 202 acres in Reddyganapavaram and 142 acres in Komugudem scheduled villages were ready for assignment and awaiting for the list of beneficiaries from tribal elders.

He added some outsiders are behind the agitators and are making the affair more problematic, he added.

In these two troubled villages 3 LTR, 18 LCA and 34 government land cases were identified as in occupation of non-tribals and some big farmers.

He said the tribals had assured him that they will not create any problemin survey, not to tresspass into the lands under the occupation of non-tribals.

He also stated that he has made an intensive tour in some scheduled villages and no compalint was received by him regarding tribals demanding Rs. 1,000 per acre as compensation for taking the crop by non-tribals in troubled lands.

Tribals still creating problems

The tribals of Panduvarigudem of Jeelugumilli mandal had entered into six acres of land, enjoyed by non-tribals and decamped with chilly crop despite the Collector and Superintendent of Police were camping at Jeelugumilli and Buttayigudem.

On the other hand the tribals complain the surveyors and revenue staff for not furnishing information regarding surplus land identified during survey of troubled lands.

Vested interests behind unrest
in scheduled area: Minister

Wednesday, February 26, 1997.

News Flash

Eluru, Feb 25: Persons with vested interests are responsible for all kinds of land disputes in the scheduled areas between tribals and non-tribals and such persons or parties should not be allowed to intervene in local affairs. said Agriculture and Sugar Minister, Mr. Kotagiri Vidyadhara Rao at Koyyalagudem village while replying to non-tribal farmers from Dippakayalapadu agency village representing tribals trespassing and seizing of their yield.

He said the land disputes similar to agency area in his home constituency Chinatalpudi were amicably solved by holding talks. Keeping all of the outside elements intervention.

He assured the farmers that efforts will be made to find early solution at Jangareddigudem village.

The minister said that 370 acres of government land was identified at Reddiganapavaram and Lakshmudugudem villages and it will be distributed to tribals only.

As it will be and have some process to take up survey of all lands in the scheduled areas and cause abnormal delay, the survey of trouble government lands was taken up at first instance.

After completion of present process, the other work will be taken during the second phase.

He advised both the factions to approach the concerned officials for clarification of doubts and not to create internal law and order problem, the government will protect the interests of all people, he added.

He said that the tribals were cheated to some extent by some opportunities taking advantage of their innocence and now the government will take severe action against all such people. He assured that the formation of Jangareddigudem Revenue division is on cards along with district munisif magistrate court.

Ban order in agency areas of West Godavari

March 1, 1997.

Eluru, Feb 28:

Prohibitory order under Section 144 Cr P C has been promulgated in the trouble-prone Jelugumilli and Buttayigudem agency mandals of West Godavari district since Thursday night.

As a precautionary measure, four platoons of Armed Reserve Force and Andhra Pradesh Special Police were deployed in Kommugudem of Buttayigudem mandal besides the present force of seven platoons, the Superintendent of Police, Mr M. Punnarao, told press persons here on Friday.

The tribals and non-tribals are engaged in land disputes in the two agency mandals. Tribals have entered into the lands of non-tribals in Kommugudem and Bandarugudem villages of Buttayigudem mandal and destroyed crop of Virginia tobacco, in violation of an earlier agreement with the district administration, which barred them from transgressing into the non-tribal lands.

On information, police rushed to the village on Thursday and held discussions with the tribal leaders. Though a fresh survey of agency area lands was on, the tribals are demanding that the assessed waste dry land and surplus land be distributed to them under the Land Ceiling Act.

The police also took out a 'flag march' in the villages of Buttayigudem mandal on Thursday. The tribals, armed with arrows and bows, are entering into the lands of non-tribals and destroying the crop frequently for the past ten days, the non-tribals alleged. (UNI)