Archive · 28 Jul 2026
Forest Land Retrieval Efforts Spark Clashes in Adilabad
In Adilabad District, the forest department is trying to take back lands that they say belong to the forest.
These lands are being farmed by local people, who say they have the right to farm there.
The forest department has taken back 1000 acres of land, but the farmers and their local leaders are resisting.
There have been clashes in many places.
Some farmers say they have official papers showing they can farm the land, but the forest department is still stopping them.
Local leaders from different political parties are supporting the farmers and have asked the forest department to stop bothering them.
Forest department is retrieving podu lands in Adilabad District, claiming they are forest or reserve forest lands.
1000 acres of land have been retrieved at Itikalpahd in Sirpur (T).
Podu cultivators and local political leaders are resisting the land retrieval efforts.
Clashes between forest staff and podu cultivators have occurred in multiple locations.
Local MLAs from Congress, BJP, and BRS are supporting the podu cultivators and have asked the forest department to stop harassing them.
- Who
- Forest department, podu cultivators, local political leaders
- What
- Land retrieval efforts by the forest department leading to clashes with podu cultivators
- When
- Following the rains in the region
- Where
- Adilabad District, Telangana
- Why
- Forest department claims the lands are forest or reserve forest lands, while cultivators argue they have ROFR pattas and rights to cultivate.
Forest Department
Podu Cultivators and Local Leaders
Land Ownership
Forest Department
The forest department claims the lands are either forest land or lands in the reserve forest, and thus should be retrieved.
Podu Cultivators and Local Leaders
Podu cultivators and local leaders argue that they have been cultivating these lands for a long time and have ROFR pattas, which grant them rights to the land.
Cultivation Rights
Forest Department
The forest department is trenching the podu lands being cultivated by local farmers, claiming they are raising plantations on retrieved lands.
Podu Cultivators and Local Leaders
Local farmers allege that the forest staff is obstructing them from cultivating lands for which they have ROFR pattas and even displayed the patta passbooks.
- Location
- Adilabad District, Telangana
- Lands Retrieved
- 1000 acres at Itikalpahd in Sirpur (T)
- Incidents of Clashes
- Murimadugu, Kalleda, Jannaram, Kerameri, Asifabad, Ankushapur, Neelvai, Chennur, Bejjur, Penchikalpet, Ichoda, Kadam
- MLAs Supporting Cultivators
- Vedma Bojju (Congress), Palvai Harish Babu (BJP), Kova Laxmi (BRS)
- Action Taken by MLA
- Vedma Bojju submitted a memorandum to the Forest Department to stop harassing adivasis in his constituency.