Conspiracy to snatch tribal lands alleged
With an eye to grab tribals lands, an unscrupulous person, with the help of hirelings, has raised sheds in lands being cultivated by tribals in villages affected by Krishna river backwaters in Kothapalli mandal of Nallamala forest region. Though Srisailam project displaced from 70 villages were rehabilitated 40 years ago
Atmakur (Kurnool): With an eye to grab tribals lands, an unscrupulous person, with the help of hirelings, has raised sheds in lands being cultivated by tribals in villages affected by Krishna river backwaters in Kothapalli mandal of Nallamala forest region. Though Srisailam project displaced from 70 villages were rehabilitated 40 years ago, residents of Siddeswaram, Janala and Balapalathippa villages in the Nallamala forest region on the banks of Krishna river eke out a living by catching fish in the river and practice agriculture when the backwaters recede.
Recently, District Collector Ch Vijaya Mohan, who was transferred, gave rights to the tribals of these villages to practice agriculture in the said lands. Unable to stomach the development, a person belonging to Janala got sheds raised in the lands and not allowing tribal and Chenchu farmers to practice agriculture. The tribals represented their case to the new incumbent District Collector J Satyanarayana.
Upon learning about it, the person giving trouble to the tribals allegedly hatched a plot to attack the complainants, it is alleged.The Collector directed Kothapalli Tahsildar to probe the incident. The tribals allege that not a single official approached them to conduct an inquiry as they suspect bribing of the officials by their tormentor. Unless, District Superintendent of Police (SP) interfered in the matter, the tribals say that their problem will not be resolved.
By M Sathya Peter
