Podu Land Row Escalates as Retrieval Drive Intensifies in Adilabad
HYDERABAD: Tension has escalated between podu cultivators and forest officials in parts of the erstwhile Adilabad district over the Forest Lands Retrieval Programme. Fresh disputes have emerged after recent rains as both sides prepare for competing activities on the same land.
Incidents have been reported in Penchikalpet and Bejjur mandals of Komaram Bheem Asifabad district and Kadam mandal in Nirmal district. Farmers are preparing their fields for sowing, while forest officials have started reclaiming forest land and taking up plantation work.
Farmers oppose trenching
Podu cultivators say trenching with earthmovers has disrupted farming activities. They claim they have cultivated the land for decades and depend on it for their livelihood.
However, forest officials say the disputed land belongs to the forest department. They argue that the reclamation drive is part of the Forest Lands Retrieval Programme.
The dispute intensified in the Devudupalli Forest Beat in Kerameri mandal of Komaram Bheem Asifabad district. Forest officials moved to reclaim about 150 hectares of podu land on the outskirts of Surdapur village.
Meanwhile, farmers from Surdapur and Savarkheda villages say they have cultivated the land for nearly 50 years. They allege that trenches dug around the fields have blocked their access for the past 20 days.
Housing works add to dispute
The conflict has also spread to housing projects. Forest officials have reportedly objected to the construction of Indiramma houses in Adivasi habitations located inside reserve forest areas.
In addition, differences have emerged between elected representatives from Scheduled Tribe constituencies, including Boath, Khanapur and Asifabad, and forest officials over the housing works. The dispute highlights the continuing conflict between forest conservation, land rights and development activities in the region.
