Santosh Kumar Gupta (Correspondent)
Bijpur/ Sonbhadra –
From Baidhan Mor to Sirsoti, the Forest Department team launched a campaign to remove illegal encroachments. The team that arrived with JCB and manpower took action at the identified places and vacated the land by removing encroachments. During the action, the matter heated up as the standing crops of the villagers were affected. Tribal villagers of the rehabilitation area opened a front on the road protesting against the action of the Forest Department.
The villagers blocked the road in protest against the action. Within no time, long queues of vehicles formed on both sides of the road and traffic was disrupted for hours. There was a tense situation at the spot for a long time.
Villagers Ram Bhog Gupta, Indravati, Jeevan Lal, Munni Devi, Sunita Devi, Ravita, Raju Panika, Dev Kumar, Ram Dhani, Bhola Verma, Ram Pravesh, Ajay Gupta and Munna Singh and other villagers alleged that they were not given any notice or information before removing the encroachment. According to the villagers, action was taken suddenly with JCB and employees, due to which their standing crops were damaged.
Villagers say that farming is the main means of livelihood for their families. They are suffering financial loss due to crop destruction. He demanded to give information to the affected farmers and proper assessment of crop loss before taking action.
Action should be taken after demarcation, siege by placing wire
Villagers also raised questions regarding cutting of trees during the action. He said that if the concerned land actually belongs to the Forest Department, then first the land should be properly demarcated and the boundary should be made clear. After this, fencing should be done by putting wire, so that the situation of encroachment does not arise in future.
The villagers also accused the Forest Department of discrimination in taking action. He said that encroachment is present at many places in the market area too, but no action is being taken there. The villagers alleged that only the weak and poor people were being targeted. However, there was no immediate clear response from the Forest Department on these allegations.
Police arrived, after explaining the jam ended
Bijpur police reached the spot as soon as information about the road jam was received. The police station in-charge pacified the villagers and called the concerned people to the police station at 11 am to listen to both sides.
The station in-charge assured the villagers that after listening to both the parties, efforts will be made to find a fair and meaningful solution through mutual consent. After this the villagers ended the road jam, after which the movement of vehicles on the route could become smooth.
At present, the villagers have put forward their demands regarding notice being given, demarcation of land, damage to crops and fairness of action. Now all eyes are on the conversation to be held in the police station at 11 am.