Biramitrpur Independent MlA George Tirkey alleged that due the honeymoon between the Government officials, land mafia and corporate agents, many innocent tribals were losing their residential and agriculture land in Sundargarh district.
Briefing the press, Tirkey said as Sundargarh is a scheduled district, the tribals’ land cannot be transferred. But the Government officials in connivance with land mafia are handing over the tribals’ land to various corporate houses changing its nature. As a result, the tribals are the worst sufferer. He threatened if the practice does not come to a halt, then in coming days, bloodshed will occur in the district.
Citing an example of Chikatmati panchayat of Sananuagaon revenue village under lathikata block, Tirkey said the then Tehsildar of lathikata on November 11, 2011 handed over 16.5 acres of gochar land and 2.08 acres of scheduled land to IDCO changing the nature of the land. Subsequently, the IDCO handed over 4.54 acres of land to a company ‘Veritas Corporation’. When the local residents knew it, they started opposing it. However, the company was least concerned with it and constructed its compound wall over the land in presence of police armed with a High Court order. Tirkey said the tribals will not tolerate the construction over the land. They have represented the district administration on April 16 urging them to put the fact before the court in favour of the tribals.
Besides Sananugaon in Jamunanaki, 24 acres of tribal land and 18 acres of gochar land has been given to an educational institution and 50 acres of forest land to an industrialist at Kicheita. Tirkey urged immediate return of land to the tribals. He informed that on May 5, a mass tribal congregation will be held at Vedavyas on the issue. Present on the occasion were former MlA Halu Mundari, tribal leaders letha Tirkey, lily Kujur, Patras Ekka, Chakradhar Mahato and Kamal Barua.