Govt gets ready to take a fresh look at land issues

Expressbuzz, June 22, 2009

BHUBANESWAR: The Orissa Government, in its urgency to push through the welfare programmes in the run up to the elections, had completely forgotten land problems in the tribal regions. Post-Narayanpatna, it seemed to have woken up to the issue.

Rightly sensing that the ongoing tribal uprising could spread to other parts of the KBK region and radicals could take advantage of it, the Government has decided upon a series of revenue-related steps which can go a long way in addressing land disputes, at the core of the uprising.

For a beginning, top brass of the Revenue Department will meet all field officers of the 10 revenue districts under the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (South) during the next four to five weeks and take stock of the situation.

Important issues like encroachment, revenue collection, displacement, land acquisition and disaster preparedness would be reviewed, and when necessary, exemplary action would be taken against the erring revenue officials.

As part of the plan, the first meeting would be held at Berhampur on Monday when status of Ganjam and Gajapati would be reviewed. Revenue Minister Surya Narayan Patro will directly meet the field officials.

The next meeting will be held at Koraput towards the end of the month to review the scenario of the undivided district. The subsequent phases would see the perusal at Kandhamal and Kalahandi districts.

Besides, the Government is also keen on settling rights of forest dwellers in these areas under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006. For, this will pacify the restive tribals.

However, it would require leave of the Orissa High Court since the matter is sub judice.

``In the Southern Revenue Division itself, we have finalised 20,000 pattas. Once the HC allows us to settle the rights, we would go right ahead,’’ RDC (South) Satyabrata Sahu told this paper.

In fact, in Narayanpatna alone, 1,636 pattas have been finalised and waiting to be restored in favour of the tribals.

Meanwhile, Rajesh Patil, who was appointed new Sub-Collector of Koraput, joined duty today and has been entrusted with the responsibility of preparing an action plan in the next one week. The plan will comprise both revenue issues and development map for the area.