Forest staff block tahsildar from visiting tribal villages

The Revenue Department had announced a special camp in Kozhikamuthi, Erumaparai and Kumatty tribal villages in Top Slip on October 11 to carry out changes in ration card like inclusion and deletion of names.  

To conduct the camp, a team of officials led by Anaimalai taluk Civil Supplies special tahsildar Kumari Anandan had gone to Top Slip on that day. However, they were stopped at the check-post by the staff of the Forest Department, who sought permission letters from the District Forest Office (DFO) to proceed further.

Though the team showed their official ID cards, the Forest Department staff refused to permit them to visit the tribal villages. Also, the Revenue Department officials were forced to wait from 11 am to 3pm at the check-post.

As they couldn’t proceed further despite waiting for long hours, the tahsildar and his team returned without conducting the grievance meet in the tribal villages. In his petition to Pollachi RDO Ravi Kumar, Tahsildar Kumari Anandan sought action against the Forest Department staff for preventing them from discharging their duty.

Meanwhile, RDO Ravi Kumar said that the issue has been taken to the notice of the District Collector and DFO for further action.