Team News Riveting
Raipur, July 4 July
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai on Thursday ordered a probe into the alleged eviction of Kamar tribe families in the Bagbahara forest area.
Sai directed the Forest Department officials to investigate the notice issued by the Assistant Forest Range Officer for evicting the Kamar families residing in Bagbahara forest area number 88 for years and take appropriate action. The matter came to his notice at the Jandarshan program where the Chief Minister interacts with the common people to note down their grievances. The Jandarshan will be organised every Thursday.
A delegation of Kamar tribe residing in Bagbahara forest area met the Chief Minister at the Jandarshan programme and submitted an application with a plea to stop the eviction proceedings. Alakh Ram Kamar informed that 20 Kamar families including him are residing in the forest area. Notice has been issued to evict the Kamar families from the place.
He added that the Kamar families have been living in the forest area before the Special Backward Tribes Forest Rights Act 2006 came into being. They have been living in the forest that is also the source of their livelihood. The Forest Rights Committee also recommended on 10 May 2008 that leases be given to the occupying families.
In the year 2008, Gram Panchayat Tamora got bores dug for drinking water. They have not been given forest rights leases till date as they opposed the officials’ demand for money, the delegation members said, adding that to harass the Kamar families, threats and notices of eviction are issued from time to time, due to which the community members are scared.
The Chief Minister took a serious note and directed the forest department officials to investigate the entire matter and take appropriate action.
