Belthangady: Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner A.B Ibrahim on Thursday promised to grant land rights in a month to the eligible applicants, after verifying the 19 applications that were rejected under the Forest Rights Act.
The DC paid a second surprise visit to the fringes of Kudremukh National Park, Kuthalur to address the grievances of the residents.
He directed the officer to look into the applications, hold a survey and submit the report to the taluk level committee without further delay. He asserted that the report should be available during the meeting on January 15, which he himself chairs. “With this, the issue regarding land rights will be sorted out by the end of January”, the DC promised the forest dwellers.
Besides, he directed the MESCOM officials to implement the union government’s project, which has sanctioned the setting up of a self-sufficient solar electricity production unit. The DC said Kuthalur village is the beneficiary of the project.
Kittu Malekudiya told A.B Ibrahim that he had left the village, after the government asked him to vacate the forest with the promise of a better land and compensation of Rs 8.95 lakh for 1.20 acres of land in 2012. Kittu said that he was not able to find land for such a price and neither had the government granted appropriate land. The DC told Kittu that he would be rehabilitated in Sulikeri Naydaguri village.
Road development
The residents complained that the proposal to repair the Kunkunje-Alamba stretch and Alamba-Kuriyadi road has been repeatedly rejected by the forest department. In reply, the DC asked the members of Girijana Welfare Committee to send a proposal to renovate the road, without cutting any trees.
ANF ill-treatment
Vittal Malekudiya told A.B Ibrahim that the residents are being ill-treated by the Anti-Naxal Force (ANF). In reply, SP Sharanappa said “the issue was raised during SC/ST grievance meeting earlier, and we subsequently held a meeting with the ANF”.
