Bhubaneswar, Dec 5 (UNI) Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari told the state Assembly on Thursday that nobody would be allowed to illegally occupy the tribal land in the state.
Replying to a question from BJP legislator Bhaskar Madhei, the Minister said if any influential non-tribal illegally occupied any ST/SC land, action would be taken against him as per the law.
Pujari said the land would be returned to the original owner after evicting him.
He said as many as 654 such cases were under the consideration of the government now and it would take action after inquiry.
The Minister said if anyone purchased the land of any SC/ST violating the provisions of Land Reform Act of 1960, it would be declared illegal, and the land would be returned to the rightful owners through eviction processes. Currently, 881 such cases are under consideration by the government.
Similarly, if any non-tribal is found encroaching on tribal land in Scheduled areas, it would be declared illegal and the land would be returned to tribal people. As many as 19690 such cases are under consideration, he added.
Pujari said the Deputy Collectors were given the power to make detailed inquiries about the illegal occupation of any tribal land by the non-tribals from 1956 to 2000.
The Deputy Collectors can declare the handover of the land illegal if there is any violation in the land handover process and return the land to the original tribal owner, he said.
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