Chief Minister Raman Singh has directed to suspend the sub divisional officers (SDOs) of Revenue and Forest departments in Mahasamund district for allotting lease of State Forest Development Corporation land to ineligible candidates.
The action was initiated by the Chief Minister following the issue being raised by an Independent member Vimal Chopra through calling attention notice in the State Assembly on Wednesday.
Chopra said that lease was given to 25 non-tribal people on forest land in Malidih village of Mahasamund district. These lease holders have 5-20 acres of land in the same village, own pucca houses, tractors, harvesters, cars and motorcycles.
The lease has been given for 20 acres of land only but the lease holders have uprooted teak wood trees and other species of trees in about 45-50 acres of land and started farming on the land, he said.
Chopra said that no proposal was given by the Gram Sabha or Forest Rights Committee for allotment of land. A complaint was lodged with SDO on February 28, 2014 followed by complaints made to the Collector, Tehsildar and State Forest Development Corporation respectively and the allotment of lease was stopped. However, once again the lease was allotted on July 7, 2014, he said.
The Chief Minister acknowledged that it was a serious matter and a case of encroachment was registered against 25 people on July 11, 2014. It was also found that 50 more ineligible people were allotted lease under forest rights.
He said that Mahasamund District Collector has started process of cancellation of lease of all 75 persons and legal action has been initiated against all of them for felling of trees and encroachment of forest land.
He said that the concerned SDOs of Revenue and Forest department will be placed under suspension and the matter will be probed by an officer of the level of Conservator of Forest.