Govt taking steps to evict encroachers in tribal areas: Minister

Hyderabad, Sep 2 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Tribal Welfare Minister D Redya Naik today said the state government was taking necessary steps to evict illegal encroachments under the provisions of Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Areas Land Transfer Regulation Act, 1959.

Replying to a question by D Veerbhadra Rao and A Revanth Reddy of TDP during the Question Hour in the Legislative Council, he admitted that certain non-tribals had taken up construction works illegally in Araku Valley in Visakhapatnam district, violating the Act 1/70.

However, cases were booked against some 'Girijans' when they created law and order problem during their agitation against the illegal constructions.

Refuting the members' allegations that the government was filing cases against the Girijans instead of booking the violators of the Act, he said cases had been registered against 14 people for taking up illegal construction works. He said 3.37 lakh acres of land in the tribal area was under litigation between the tribals and non-tribals and the government had settled disputes over 3.30 acres.

Out of the 76,202 cases booked in connection with land disputes, 36,176 cases were settled in favour of tribals, he added.

UNI BR VA SJ Mir RK1745