It is reported that Tribals in Orissa’s Koraput district are pressing for patta lands under the Forest Rights Act.

The tribals of Kundra block under the banner of Kundra Van Surakshya Samiti had submitted a memorandum containing their demand to the collector through the sub collector, Jeypore. They also threatened to sit in dharna in front of the collectorate here to press their demand.

Altogether 262 people from Asana panchayat had applied for patta but the same was issued to only six persons while in Kermiti panchayat pattas were issued to eight persons against 360 applicants. In Begderi panchayat 162 persons had received their pattas against 255 applicants.

Meanwhile, the beneficiaries who got pattas in the three gram panchayats alleged that they were yet identify their land and take its possession.

A resident of Kundra said that “We met the tahasildar and sub collector several times for issuance of land pattas but no action has been taken so far.”

He said that the administration should also take steps to show the beneficiaries who were issued land pattas their piece of land under the FRA adding that at a few places the forest department had undertaken plantation on the land allotted to tribals which needed to be stopped.

(Sourced from PTI)