Conflict over podu lands in Telangana resurfaces
By IANS |
Published on
Tue, Dec 15 2020 18:48 IST |
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Hyderabad, Dec 15 : The conflict between tribals and forest department over the lands under cultivation by the former in parts of Telangana has surfaced again with a tribal legislator belonging to the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) threatening a war over podu lands.
Rega Kantha Rao, who represents Pinapaka Assembly constituency in Khammam district, has asked the tribals not to allow forest officials to enter villages and if they do detain them.
He asked sarpanchs, members of mandal and district level local bodies, party leaders and workers to take the responsibility of preparing people for the fight with forest officers.
The demolition drive and the eviction notices, Khatana says now puts the future of thousands of such families under a threat.
Many Gujjar families across Kashmir have received show-cause notices to “leave the unauthorised occupation of the forest land”.
“We have been living in the forests in peace with all the creatures here. We are here because our great grandfathers were born here,” Khatana said.
Bajad and Khatana are from the Gujjar community considered some of the most impoverished groups in Kashmir – home to 12 million people.
Back in Kanidajan village, tucked in a forest land surrounded with pine trees, people said their livelihood is dependent on the cultivation of apples – the core of the disputed region’s economy – and potatoes.