The tribals of Chhatia village in Gondia tehsil in a Press briefing urged the Government to cancel an illegal palli sabha held at the village for acquisition of about 21 acre of tribal forest land for setting up of a power plant.
They said that the Government and company officials have cheated the villagers and taken their signatures by exploiting their simplicity in the palli sabha, which had given a clear verdict for the acquisition of the land.
In protest, the tribals had taken out a rally and held a demonstration in front of the Collectorate on August 1. As the issue had created hue and cry, with allegation of human rights violation flying thick and fast, NHRC Special Rapporteur Damodar Sarangi had visited Chhatia and interacted with the aggrieved people on September 17 last.
Then, Sarangi had moved to the diverted 20.760 acres of tribal forest land for which the palli sabha was held. The Forest and Revenue officials were unable to identify the exact location of the forest land to Sarangi. Dhenkanal Sub-Collector, Gondia tehsildar, Forest officials, lAO, police and anti corruption activist and farmer leader Er Debashisha Hota were present along with more than 3,00 villagers during Sarangi’s tour.