Madikeri: “All applications of the forest dwellers in relation to the Forest Rights Act shall be cleared in one month and they shall be given the title deeds,” said district in-charge minister V Somanna.
Chairing the KDP review meeting in the new complex of the Zilla Panchayat, he said, “All the infrastructural facilities must be provided to all the forest dwellers.”
MLA K G Bopaiah, who was also present, said, “Forest dwellers and other tribal community members are facing a lot of issues due to the delay in handing over of the title deeds. The forest officials are not allowing us to provide any facilities to them and the applications are not being cleared on time. The electricity facility to be provided under the ‘Ganga Kalyan’ scheme is still pending. The forest officials have not permitted us to connect the roadways to the bridge.”
“It is the duty of the RFO and other forest officials to hand over the title deeds on time. They could not do this, in spite of several meetings. Those who have been living in the forest areas since before 1978, shall be given the title deeds. Around 400 people are still in line to receive the 3-acre title deed. Title deeds have already been given to people of Sampaje and Chembu, but now, the forest officials are harassing them and asking to furnish the RTC. Devamacchi has been included under the list of wildlife areas. People of several areas are being harassed. Because of this, the forest dwellers are undergoing religious conversion. I had sanctioned Rs 16 crores for the provision of electricity in the rural areas under the Sowbhagya and Deen Dayal Upadhyay schemes. But the forest officials are not allowing us to implement the projects,” he explained.
MLA Appachu Ranjan said, “Areas including Bajegundi have not been given proper infrastructural facilities. Around 3000 people are yet to receive title deeds.”
Reacting to this, Somanna directed the officials to work promptly. He directed the PWD and forest officials to take up the Makutta road construction work by conducting a departmental level joint inspection.
Meanwhile, several infrastructural and civic aspects of other parts of the district were also discussed.
Several officials were present.
