Orissa to enforce land reforms measures strictly

The Orissa government has initiated steps to restore the land belonging to the tribal people which are currently occupied illegally by the non-tribals violating the Orissa Land Reforms Act.

This measure follows recent disturbances at Narayanapatana in Koraput district where the Chasi Mulia Sangha, a tribal organization, forcibly took possession of over 500 acres of land which was under the occupation of the non-tribals.

Later the tribal people also staged demonstration at Bandhugaon in Koraput district demanding return of their lands.

“We have already settled about 33 cases and returned about 15 acres of land to the tribal people in Narayanapatana block by June 10 last”, said the state revenue minister SN Patra here on Monday. He was here to review the performance of the revenue department in Ganjam and Gajapati districts.

The clash between the tribal and non-tribal people at Narayanpatan had erupted over the land dispute in the first week of the May. “Two senior officers have been deputed to dispose of the cases of the tribals by holding camp courts at Narayanapatana”, the minister said. Effort was on to settle the land dispute cases in other districts through such camp courts, he added.

The government has asked the people who purchased land belonging to the tribals after 1956 to submit affidavit showing the reasons of purchase under section 22 of the Act. They have been given 2 years time. “We have asked the district administrations to examine the records after 1956”, the minister said.

Besides, the government has decided to give land patta to the tribal people who settled in jungle area under the Forest Right Act. Around 30,000 to 40,000 tribal people in the entire state would be benefited under the Act. Out of them, 20,000 people are expected to get land patta in forest area in south Orissa’s Koraput, Kalahandi and Kandhamal districts.

The implementation of the Act, however, was blocked as it was stayed by the state high court. “As soon as the case was vacated by the court, the government is ready to provide the land patta to the tribal people settled in forest areas”, the minister said.

Meanwhile, the chief minister Naveen Patnaik reviewed the situation in a high level meeting. It was decided to provide legal assistance to to tribals who are unable to file cases against alleged occupation of tribal land by the non-tribals and to start a sensitization campaign about the land rights of the tribals.