Trinath
Billyground, Feb 13: Deprived of official attention and callousness of revenue department, poor cultivators, who made hospitable terrains in remote Louki Nallah in Middle Andaman prior 1978, are now facing threat of eviction from their land holdings. Despite being issued land licenses in respect of individual holdings as per the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Land Revenue and Land Reforms Regulation 1966 in the year 2002, the hapless farmers are forced to run pillar to post to secure proper revenue records like record entry and map etc of their land and are often warned of eviction drives by the officials of the North and Middle Andaman Administration.
“The Revenue Department has been making absolute mockery of our plight since 2002. In the year 2002, the administration issued licenses farmers namely Benedict Keratta, Bhowra Maji, Pius Xess, Shri Behana Dung Dung, Marianus Das, Philip Toppo, Ardhias Tigga and 9 others under clause (ii) of Section 146 of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Land Revenue and Land Reforms, Regulation 1966 for encroached forest land prior to 1978. However, the licenses were cancelled following an Apex Court verdict and farmers were evicted from their land on May 30, 2002. After repeated pleas, the administration taking into consideration out hardships allowed us to stay in the revenue land, make huts and carry out agricultural activities for livelihood,” says a farmer speaking to Andaman Sheekha Billyground Bureau.
“The revenue department issued License to Occupy Agricultural Land to 12 families Bhowra Majhi (Plot No.17), Bernadict Kerketta (Plot No. 14), Pius Xess (Plot No. 2), Behana Dung Dung (Plot No. 11), Marianus Dung Dung (Plot No. 16), Philip Toppo (Plot No. 12), Aridas Tigga (Plot No. 10) and five others each measuring an area of 1 hectare. The administration also fixed the respective plot’s LR as Rs. 4.94 paisa
and we were directed to pay on dates prescribed under section 113(2) of the above mentioned Regulation every year, and the first year’s land revenue being payable on 1st January of every year, besides cess and fees levied under the rules. It has been stated in the license that the land cannot be used for any other purpose than cultivation of agricultural crops and that the license shall come into effect from
the date of surrendering the excess area if any, under his/her possession and subject to payment of arrears of land revenue with immediate effect from 01/01/1978,” informed another.
From here started our ordeal. Every time we approach the Patwari for payment of land revenue, we were chased away from the office. Even our pleas to the Tehsildar fell on deaf ears. It’s an irony that despite being issued licenses, we were never provided revenue records like record entry, map etc in respect of our land. We can’t identify our plots because of this. Many outsiders have already started encroaching
upon our piece of land. We are totally clueless of whom to approach in the administration to get our grievances addressed. We’re apprehensive of our future as we face threat of eviction from our land holdings.
Moreover, with outsiders intruding into our share, a severe brawl has become imminent in this region. In the event of casualties, the administration will be held liable as it has been totally insensitive to our sufferings since years,” lamented the farmers.
