THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister for Forest and Housing Benoy Viswom said here on Thursday that an inquiry by the Chief Conservator of Forests (Vigilance) had detected some violations of forest laws by wind energy companies at Attappady. However, no major encroachments had been found.
In his preliminary report, the Chief Conservator had said that high tension lines had been drawn over forest areas and 12 posts had been erected in forests for transmission of electricity. Besides, a road was cut through forests for transport of equipment.
The Minister said the Conservator had recommended a detailed survey.
His report had been submitted to the committee headed by the Chief Secretary which was considering the matter.
“The government would not countenance any encroachment on forests or alienation of tribal lands.”
Mr. Viswom said the notification of more than 17,000 acres as reserve forest would be done without much delay.
The Secretary's committee had found that there were no settlers in the area in question. The area was in possession of the Forest Department from the eighties.
He said the final shape of the Kurinjimala Sanctuary would be decided by the settlement officer. There had been some errors in the survey and block numbers in the notification of the sanctuary. This would be corrected.
There was no question of evicting original settlers. They could prefer their claims of land before the settlement officer.
SIT meeting held
Staff Reporter writes from Palakkad: Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran has said that the government will take all possible steps to resume the tribal land illegally annexed by windmill companies at Kottathara village in Attappady in the district.
Inaugurating a ‘pattaya mela' (title deed distribution) at Alathur taluk here on Thursday, the Minister said the government would inquire into the fabrication of land documents. The involvement of officials of the departments of Revenue, Registration, Forest, Electricity would also be inquired into.
He said a special investigation team headed by the Chief Secretary held its first meeting in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday.
Report in a month
It would submit a report to the government within a month. It was also asked to suggest action to be taken against those involved in the fraud, the Minister said. He said the “government will take all steps to protect tribal land from getting alienated in the State.
''The Minister said two lakh title deeds would be distributed in the State in the current financial year.
He said the government had spent Rs.420 crore to write off the loans taken by the poor from financial institutions pledging their land documents. This had saved thousands of poor people from debt trap.
A total of 426 title deeds were distributed at the pattaya mela. Another 266 persons were given financial assistance of Rs.5.87 lakh from the Chief Minister's relief fund.
From the natural calamity fund, 134 persons were given financial assistance of Rs.2.64 lakh.
Source: The Hindu 6-8-2010
No comments:
Post a Comment