Forest department's action causes uproar, Farmers landed in muddy fields - threatened suicide

CURATED BY – SUNIL YADAV | CITYCHIEFNEWS

Katni, Farmers' anger against the action of the Forest Department in village Chiruhala of Rethi tehsil of Katni district reached from the roads to the fields. It is alleged that the department ran a JCB on the crop in the fields during the rainy season without any prior notice and forcibly occupied the land. Due to this, about 20 acres of crop was destroyed, the cost of which is said to be in lakhs of rupees. The affected farmers are protesting by landing in the muddy fields. A large number of villagers including women and children joined this protest. Farmers say that their account was destroyed by the Forest Department with the help of JCB yesterday, since then they are standing in the fields soaking in the rain, but till now neither the administrative staff has reached nor any solution has been found. A video of the clash between the forest staff and the farmers during the action taken by the forest department yesterday has also surfaced, in which the forest staff is seen arguing and driving the farmers and women away from the fields.
The protesting farmers, standing in the mud of the destroyed field, allege that the forest department has razed the fields occupied by their ancestors without their knowledge and consent. Videos of the destruction of fields by JCB have also surfaced. A video of the clash between the forest staff and the farmers during the action taken by the forest department has also surfaced, in which the forest staff is seen driving the farmers and women away from the fields and arguing. Which is raising serious questions on the functioning of the department. The protesting farmers demand that they should get immediate compensation for the crop loss and they should get a legal lease for the land which has been taken over by the forest department, in which they have been farming for years. During this action, strict action should be taken against whoever is guilty. The angry farmers have warned that if justice is not received soon, they will be forced to take a drastic step like suicide in the field itself.
Forest Department DFO Gaurav Sharma told in this matter that on the instructions of the government, the process of removing encroachment from forest land has been started. At present, information about the situation is being taken by giving notice only. After this, a list will be prepared and investigation will be done under the instructions of the Collector. He clarified that no one's land will be taken during the rainy season and proper investigation will be done first.. At the same time, in the current action taken by the Forest Department, it can be clearly seen how the forest department has acquired its land by destroying the crops of the farmers.. The matter is constantly heating up, but the silence of the administration has deepened the pain and anger of the farmers. Now the question is whether the government will be able to save the hopes of the farmers from the claws of JCB?