Altogether 1, 31,564 families given Patta lands under Forest Rights Act, Animesh

A total of 1,31,564 families have given ‘Pattas’ under Forest Rights Act -2006 so far in the state, said Forest Minister Animesh Debbarma on Friday during reply to a calling attention notice at the Assembly.

Ruling alliance Tipra-Motha MLA, Smt Nandita Debbarma (Reang) on Friday placed a calling attention notice regarding demarcation of land among the forest dwellers, who were given ‘pattas’ (Land allotment) under Forest Rights Act -2006 and replying to the calling attention, Forest Minister Animesh Debbarma said that a total of 1,89, 819  hector of land has been allocated among the beneficiaries, who were given pattas.

He said that the state government is committed to the proper implementation of the Forest Rights Act-2006, ensuring that forest dwellers including the Scheduled Tribes (ST) and other traditional forest dwellers receive their rightful pattas.

Tribal Welfare department is the nodal department for implementation of RoFR Act and Forest department in coordination with Tribal Welfare department and Revenue department is working on the issue, said Minister.

He said that meeting was held under the chairmanship of the nodal department with secretaries of the all three departments and based on the meeting, the Forest department recently wrote to the Tribal Welfare department for demarcation of the patta lands in consultation with the Revenue department, said Debbarma.

He informed the House that the Revenue department carried out demarcation of patta lands in some areas in some districts with fixing of boundary pillars. However, till date these maps are not attack=ched with the RoFR certificates or pattas.

The work is huge and it would require considerable resources and time, said Minister and proposed  for a meeting under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha for suitable decision with allocation of resources for by involving three departments, said Animesh Debbarma and added that the government will take all suitable steps for fixing of boundaries of patta lands through demarcation  and will remove all confusion in boundaries that are existing in some cases.