From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network - Madikeri (SP)

Madikeri, Dec 17: State revenue minister, Kagodu Thimmappa, promised the tribal people from Diddalli, who have been displaced by the eviction operation, to allot sites at the same place through forest rights committee.

During his participation in the progress review meeting held here on Friday December 16, Thimmappa instructed the officials to provide sites to 575 people who had earlier pitched sheds in Diddalli forest area. He also asked the gram panchayat to pass a resolution recommending creation of extensions with provision for the displaced people to live there, and send the same to forest rights committee.

"The resolution as above should be passed and sent to subdivisional officers. The subdivisional officer and deputy commissoner of the district have to hold consultation and take steps to provide sites to the tribal people, he said. Earlier, zilla panchayat president, B A Harish had raised the issue of the tribal people from Diddalli forest having been evicted by forest department.

Vice president of forest development board, Padmini Ponnappa, said that these tribals were living there since the last eight months and over, and the department, which was silent when sheds were built, suddenly drove them away now. She pointed out that the department has failed to act against some people who have cut down forest trees and are growing ginger in the forest area nearby.

When questioned by the minister, deputy forest conservator said that alternate sites for settling down of evicted tribals are being identified in Ammatti and G Shettigeri divisions and that there had been delay in identifying the site for resettlement. Thimmappa said that the concerned would be provided land at the spot where they were living, and drinking water, school etc will also be provided. He stressed that it is the duty of the concerned to respond to the problems of the tribal people.

Minister for cooperation, Mahadeva Prasad, PWD minister, H C Mahadevappa, food and civil supplies minister, U T Khader, regional commissioner, M V Jayanti, district in-charge secretary, Kalpana, deputy commissioner, Dr Richard Vincent D'Souza etc were present.