No politics over ‘podu’ lands, caution forest authorities

HYDERABAD: Officials of the Telangana state forest department on Wednesday put all political celebrations on notification stating that it will no longer be appropriate to them if any celebration makes pledges on regularization of forest advancements. Agents of various forest officers’ associations, in a conference with Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force) R.M. Dobriyal at Aranya Bhavan in the city, likewise made it clear that clear cut standards and a plan should be released by the PCCF with regard to handling RoFR (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act. Dobriyal in turn, guaranteed the agents that he will take the associations’ issues to the federal government. Instantly after the conference, he met director general of authorities M. Mahendar Reddy and asked for authorities assistance for forest personnel in the field. According to a release from the forest department, the DGP guaranteed of authorities support in delicate locations, which directions will be released to execute this guarantee. Previously in the conference at Aranya Bhavan, participated in by agents of the Junior Forest Officers, Forest Range Officers, State Forest Officers, and IFS Officers associations, the PCCF was asked to guarantee circulation of guns to Forest Ranger Officers and above ranked personnel, kick out all Gutti Koyas from Telangana’s forests as they are not qualified for any forest rights lands, and gotten in touch with the federal government to modify the Forest Act of 1967 to make all forest land infringement circumstances as non-bailable offenses with a penalty of 7 to 10 years. The Retired IFS Officers Association, on the other hand, highly condemned the FRO’s killing and required that all political celebrations avoid making claims on the podu concern. It likewise looked for stringent action from the federal government versus the killers. They likewise looked for clearness from the federal government on its existing policy on infringement of forest land, extend assistance to the department, and carry out a detailed study of forest lands to demarcate forest limits in Telangana. …
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