Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur   

Police campaign against orchard felling

Staff Reporter

ANANTAPUR: The increasing incidence of felling orchards to settle scores in group rivalries has prompted the district police to envisage an awareness campaign against the evil practice. It is being planned to take up the drive after the conclusion of Praja Patham.

"A major obstacle in dealing with the evil practice is that such type of crime is not covered under any law,'' the Superintendent of Police, R.S. Praveen Kumar, told The Hindu on Saturday. Some efforts were made in the past, but they need to be continuous.

The police would visit villages and explain to people the impact of such acts on the family concerned and few others who depended on the orchards for livelihood, the SP said.

As estimated, five lakh fruit plants were mowed during the last 15 years in the district, causing enormous financial loss to the families concerned.

"It is like forcing you to be alive by cutting the life line,'' Srinivasulu, a farmer who suffered such a loss, said. More than 10,000 fruit plants were felled this year so far.

The origin of the evil dates back to early '90s in Yellanur and Putlur area allegedly perpetrated by a set of faction leaders to gain control over rivals.

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