Wednesday, 18 September 2013

State gives guns and fire arms to forest officials to fight smugglers, land grabbers in Andhra jungles

U Sudhakar Reddy
Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has ordered the State finance
department to release funds to the forest department for purchasing more than 500 weapons
on top priority. Leaders of various forest associations on Monday met Chief Minister
regarding the murder of Forest Range Officer in Nizamabad by the tribals when he opposed
land grabbing.
Forest Range Officers will be provided with revolvers and beat and sections officers with
double barrel gun to protect themselves against the smugglers and land grabbers.
AP Forest Rangers Association General Secretary Mr. M V Sudheer said,”CM has agreed for
immediate supply of 500 weapons for the staff on ground. He also consented to give
ex-gratia to the family of the Forest Range officer who was killed,”
No control of Tribal and forest land grabbers in Forest areas are leading to massive
destruction of forests.  So far forest rangers without any weapons have to face the
grabbers and smugglers armed with the firearms and axes are attacking officials.
Mr. Sudheer said ,”We have asked CM to appoint a high level committee on land
encroachments and on Recognition of Forest Rights Act. There is a serious issue with
revenue officials where there is no joint inspection. Due to greed the forest is still
cut down. Particularly in Warangal, Nizamabad, Khammam and Adilabad in Telangana and
Vishakapatnam in Coastal Andhra. So far 4.72 lakh acres was recognized and rights were
transferred to the tribals. Still people are trying to clean off the forest,”
Indian Forest Service Associations, forest range officers association, junior officers
association leaders met the CM.

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