Bhubaneswar: Odisha State Food Commission (OSFC) Monday slammed the Puri Collector for not taking any action on Individual Forest Right (IFR) claims submitted by the forest dwellers in Puri district under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006.
“What is more painful is the fact that in his capacity as the chairman of district-level committee, he (Collector) is yet to review the rejected applications despite definite instructions of the state Revenue department. He should apply his mind and at least send a report to this Commission instead of remaining completely silent,” OSFC chairperson Ranglal Jamuda wrote to all the Collectors in a letter making special mention of Puri district.
Out of 4,25,563 IFR titles distributed till December last, demarcation of land has been completed in 2,99,471 titles cases, which is 70.37 per cent of the total titles, he said.
Jamuda said in seven important districts, (where more than 5,000 titles have been distributed), the performance on demarcation of titles is significantly below the state average. These districts are Keonjhar (34.37 per cent), Nabarangpur (34.40 %), Koraput (33.68 per cent), Sundargarh (52.96 per cent), Deogarh (48.12 per cent), Nuapada (35.80 per cent) and Ganjam (51.94 per cent).
The chairperson has asked the Collectors of these seven districts to undertake special drive for demarcation of land. The demarcation of land (IFR) and correction/preparation of RoRs (including maps) have been completed only in Bhadrak district.
Referring to the correction of RoRs, the Commission said that the cumulative achievement in this regard is 1,78,039 titles, which is 41.83 per cent of the titles distributed so far.
The chairperson has asked the Collectors to complete the demarcation of land for all IFR cases and preparation of RoRs by March, 2019.
