The Nilgiris: A meeting convened by Collector Innocent Divya to discuss issues - related to Section 17 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 - in Gudalur and Pandalur taluk, was called off midway after politicos boycotted it, at the Gudalur Panchayat Union office on Friday.
The Nilgiris: A meeting convened by Collector Innocent Divya to discuss issues - related to Section 17 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 - in Gudalur and Pandalur taluk, was called off midway after politicos boycotted it, at the Gudalur Panchayat Union office on Friday.
Functionaries from various political parties, public welfare associations and police officials also took part in the meeting.
At the meeting, the collector urged people not to get carried away by the fast-spreading fake news on social media platforms regarding action taken by the State government in the Section 17 issue at Gudalur and Pandalur taluks. She also assured to take legal action those spreading such fake news.
Meanwhile, when a discussion was initiated about notices being issued to people residing in Section 17 lands, there was a flare-up between the collector and the partymen. Following this, the politicos left the hall midway, and the meeting was also called off.
Speaking to media persons, on the sidelines of the meeting, Innocent Divya said, "We have been taking legal measures to solve the problem that has been prevailing for nearly 50 years. Works have been initiated to provide basic amenities, including road facilities and power supply, for the tribals. Once the issue would be solved, 17,000 acres of land would be handed over to tribals by the forest department in the first phase.”
The collector also informed that they were not planning to evacuate people occupying the land. “Both the State government and the district administration have been working towards solving the issue. Measures have also been taken to spread awareness regarding this," the collector further said.