Hyderabad:A little more than seven lakh acres of forest, considered to be under illegal occupation by claimants who sought podu pattas and whose applications are either pending or have been rejected, are reported to be emerging as a new battleground for political parties in the run-up to the local body elections.
When the last round of podu pattas were issued by the then BRS government, claims covering around 11 lakh acres were received of which papers were issued for around four lakh acres, according to a senior forest department official. “All those whose claims were not addressed believe that it is just a matter of time for another election to come around, and the government of the day will approve their claims. They remain in occupation of forest land illegally and this is one of the major reasons for conflicts and attacks on forest staff,” the official said.
“If we try to reclaim the encroached land, we are attacked by the occupants, and we have no protection. Those without pattas yet are hoping that the government will have another round of podu claims. The government must make it clear that the ROFR Act is a one-time deal for those from tribal communities and there will be no further pattas. Only if this happens, can forests be protected, otherwise encroachments will continue,” D. Narendar, general secretary of Telangana Forest Range Officers Association said.
The forest department, according to a senior government official, operates in the dark when it comes to the pending claims. “The tribal welfare department has never shared applicant details, or even the list of approved applications. And no information has been shared on claims that have not been approved. There is very little the forest department can do to recover the lakhs of acres for which podu claims were clearly rejected,” he said.
“One of the reasons for the attacks is that encroachers want a case to be filed against them. Once a case is filed, this becomes a proof that they were in occupation of the land, and it just gets more complicated from there onwards. This is like an electricity connection given to a illegally built house and the bills paid are used as evidence that the house has government approval,” he explained.
According to the Range Officers Association, forest staff desperately need protection without which attacks like the recent ones in Adilabad district, or the one in Mulugu district in September last year do not recur. “These have become commonplace, a case is filed, and then nothing much happens. We want the government to provide us on deputation at least 10 teams of around 10 personnel each from the special police who have arms, and can support us when we are under attack. These are desperately needed at least in the 10 forest divisions in Bhadradri-Kothagudem, Khammam, Mulugu, Adilabad, and Asifabad where encroachments are rampant. No one joins the service to get beaten up, or to be killed with their throat being cut as happened with range officer Ch. Srinivasa Rao in 2022 in Kothagudem district,” Narender said.
Infographs
Forest encroachment problem
A little more than 7.29 lakh acres of forests under illegal occupation by those whose podu patta claims were not approved.
‘Speaking orders’, as required under the ROFR Act, explaining to claimants why podu patta applications were not approved, not provided by tribal welfare department.
An additional 10,000 acres of fresh encroachments since last round of podu pattas distribution in state.
Inaccurate identification of beneficiaries
Multiple patta holders for same plot of land.
Multiple Rythu Bharosa deposits for one plot of land as a result.
Forest officials say 25% of pattas issued in the last round were given to ineligible claimants, grama sabha identification system of beneficiaries was manipulated.
Attacks on forest officials, staff
July 20, 2025: Keshavapatnam in Echoda mandal in Adilabad district; 11 officials injured
June 13, 2024: Kalpol tanda in Mopal mandal in Nizamabad ditrict; 5 officials injured
Sept. 27, 2024: Damara Vayi in Tadvai mandal in Mulugu district: 3 officials attacked, one official’s fingers chopped off.
Nov. 22, 2022: Chandrugonda mandal in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district – Range officer Ch. Srinivasa Rao killed.
Sept. 16, 2021: Pandipamula in Bhupalapally mandal of Jayashankar-Bhupalpally district; 3 officials escape with burn injuries after attackers set them on fire.
June 30, 2019: Sirpur Kagaznagar forest block, KB-Asifabad district; Woman range officer attacked by mob led by brother of the then BRS MLA Koneru Konappa.
For inset
Telangana stands third in India with 7.14 lakh acres of forest land under podu pattas, after Madhya Pradesh with 9.02 lakh acres, and Chhattisgarh with 8.98 lakh acres.
