Adilabad Officials to Write to Telangana Government on ROFR Land Issues

Adilabad district officials will write a joint letter to the Telangana government seeking the resolution of policy issues concerning the development of Recognition of Forest Rights (ROFR) patta lands and the digging of borewells in forest areas, authorities announced on Friday.

Collector Rajarshi Shah and Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) Project Officer Manda Makarandu stated the decision following a social audit and public hearing conducted in the Dongachintha and Bheersaipet gram panchayats in Utnoor mandal. The audit was conducted from August 2 to 9, followed by a public hearing on August 11, under a pilot project initiated by the Central government to assess the implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006.

During the public hearing, Adivasi farmers cultivating podu lands raised multiple grievances, including difficulties in carrying out agriculture and delays in transferring ROFR pattas to legal heirs after the original holders' deaths. Kumra Shyam Rao of Kummari Kunta village in Dongachintha highlighted difficulties in transferring a patta originally issued to his late wife, Kumra Bheem Bai.

Beneficiaries also raised concerns regarding access to welfare schemes such as housing, electricity, and basic land improvements, as well as delays in recognising community rights and community forest resource rights within the core area of the local tiger reserve.

Addressing the concerns, Makarandu said that a sub-divisional level committee is studying the Community Forest Rights process implemented in Maharashtra to begin recognising and executing community rights, noting that community forest rights have not yet been issued locally under the Forest Rights Act.

Officials noted that the process of transferring ROFR patta lands to family members has been initiated. In addition, fertilisers and seeds are being provided to farmers cultivating podu land regardless of patta status, and district authorities are coordinating with forest officials to secure permissions for solar-powered pump sets for agricultural wells in forest zones.

The social audit and gram sabhas were conducted as part of an agreement between the Comptroller and Auditor General of India and the Centre for Research in Schemes and Policies to develop draft guidelines for social audits under the Forest Rights Act nationwide.