The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Raghavulu leads 1,000 landless poor as part of ‘Bhoo Poratam’

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Thursday, Aug 30, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Raghavulu leads 1,000 landless poor as part of ‘Bhoo Poratam’

Staff Reporter

Asks State to conduct proper survey of its lands that can be distributed

For a cause: CPI(M) State secretary B.V. Raghavulu ploughing a piece of land at Dasturabad Gram Panchayat limits in Kadem mandal of Adilabad district on Wednesday as part of ‘Bhoo Poratam’.

AMBARIPET (ADILABAD DT.): Communist Party of India (Marxist) State secretary B.V. Raghavulu on Wednesday led a batch of 1,000 landless poor from Kadem mandal in occupying 30 acres of reserve forestland on the borders of Dasturabad and Ambaripet gram panchayats in Kadem mandal of Adilabad district.

He claimed that 400 acres on the same stretch was under dispute between Revenue and Forest departments for the last 40 years and demanded that such land to be given to landless poor. Mr. Raghavulu, accompanied by party leaders -- Saibaba and Lanka Raghavulu (State committee members) and Bandi Dattatri (district secretary) -- ploughed the open land for some time. Policemen, revenue and forest officials were present.

Delay criticised

Later addressing a meeting, Mr. Raghavulu criticised the Government for delaying distribution of land. He asked the Government to conduct a proper survey of its lands that could be disbursed. He warned of a prolonged and intensified agitation in case the Government dithered on the issue any further.

Talking about the different types of Government land that could be disbursed, the CPI (M) leader said there was about 4.5 lakh acres in the State that was under boundary dispute between Revenue and Forest departments. Of this, about 1 lakh acres was in Adilabad district alone. Similarly, five lakh acres was under cultivation by tribals that should be given to them, he added. Revenue and Forest authorities identified the occupied site as falling under survey number 198 and compartment number 723 under Dasturabad gram panchayat on its border with Ambaripet. However, Mr. Raghavulu identified it as falling under survey number 470 in Ambaripet.

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