CS Somesh Kumar holds a meeting with forest, revenue officials

Hyderabad: Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar IAS held a meeting with forest and revenue officials to resolve the Podu land issues in accordance with the instructions of the Honourable Chief Minster K Chandrashekar Rao. It may be recalled that the government has decided to accept claims from tribals and others for Podu cultivation from 8th of November.

Chief Secretary deliberated about the procedure to be followed for accepting the claims and their scrutiny with the officials. The Forest Rights Committees (FRC) shall be formed with Sarpanches, Panchayat Secretaries, local people’s representatives and other members. These committees will create awareness, receive claims and verify. The villagers should agree to no further encroachment. Similarly there will be committees at division and district level. Districts will prepare and submit action plan and schedule.

Chief Secretary also suggested to appoint special officers in those districts where there are large number of cases pertaining to Podu lands. Similarly senior Forest officials should be appointed in the districts where there is large extent of forest lands. The entire process should be done in a transparent manner without giving scope to any controversies, he added.

Special Chief Secretary Forest Shanti Kumari, PCCF R Shobha, M C Paragein, Additional PCCF, Swargam Srinivas Addl PCCF, Secretary Tribal Welfare Christina Zongthu, CIG Sheshadri, OSD to CM Priyanka Verghese and other officials attended the meeting.