AP Govt to distribute forest lands to tribals

Hyderabad, Jan 31 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekahra Reddy today said 2.36 lakh hectares of identified forest land would be distributed to the tribals by implementing Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 from July.

According to a press release here, Dr Reddy said a road map had been prepared by the Tribal Welfare Department for distribution of 2,36,000 hectares of identified forest land to the tribals, who were occupying or enjoying four or more hectares of land before December 2005.

The Chief Minister wanted the Tribal Welfare Department with the help of Forest Department to complete the process and start distributing the rights of the land by July under any circumstances.

The District-level Committees would finalise the forest rights and grant of the title deed. The sub-divisional level committee would send the proposals to the District-level Committee. Awareness would be created among the tribals to go in for afforestation and growing of the oil palms, coffee and rubber plants and mango trees.

Dr Reddt asked the departments to train the trainers on the importance of growing fruit-bearing trees and other plantations that would give income to the tribals and at the same time help in afforestation of the area, an official release said.

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