The huts of the Kallar tribes set up at the allotted sites in Valparai were cleared out by the Forest Department on Friday on the basis that those were not on allotted sites.
Valparai: The Kallar tribes were deeply saddened when the Forest Department removed their settlements stating they were constructed in lands that did not belong to them.
The tribes in Kallar village in Valparai under the Anaimalai Tiger Reserve in Coimbatore lost their houses during heavy rains, a few years ago. As many as 23 families were settled in another location. After various demands and petitions to the State Government, 21 families in the community were allotted pattas for the construction of houses at Theppakulamedu.
The Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister, Senthil Balaji distributed pattas to 21 families of tribals from Kallarkudi during the Makkal Sabha Meeting last month and land survey processes were underway.
Arrangements were made to set up huts in the area, but however, the Forest Department removed the huts that created a ruckus between the tribes and forest officials.
Forest officers stated that they were not permitted to set up huts in lands not allotted for them, which the tribes counter-argued stating that they set up huts at lands allotted by the Government.
The forest officials when asked about the incident stated that the community had the huts in lands that did not belong to them and hence were removed. "The allotted plots are in the survey process. Steps are being taken to construct a hut at the site where patta was provided," added the Forest Department.
The tribes in Kallar village in Valparai under the Anaimalai Tiger Reserve in Coimbatore lost their houses during heavy rains, a few years ago. As many as 23 families were settled in another location. After various demands and petitions to the State Government, 21 families in the community were allotted pattas for the construction of houses at Theppakulamedu.
The Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister, Senthil Balaji distributed pattas to 21 families of tribals from Kallarkudi during the Makkal Sabha Meeting last month and land survey processes were underway.
Arrangements were made to set up huts in the area, but however, the Forest Department removed the huts that created a ruckus between the tribes and forest officials.
Forest officers stated that they were not permitted to set up huts in lands not allotted for them, which the tribes counter-argued stating that they set up huts at lands allotted by the Government.
The forest officials when asked about the incident stated that the community had the huts in lands that did not belong to them and hence were removed. "The allotted plots are in the survey process. Steps are being taken to construct a hut at the site where patta was provided," added the Forest Department.