Tribals destroy lemongrass processing units Statesman News Service
KORAPUT, 4 SEPT: The Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh (CMAS) destroyed at least 20 lemongrass processing units near Kattulpeta, Sorupali, Nilabadi and Bandhugaon villages here yesterday.
Earlier, the CMAS under the leadership of Mrs Kondagiri Paidamma, served an ultimatum to these units to shut down or face the wrath of tribals. The Sangh had decided to occupy the land where the lemongrass was cultivated..
The CMAS which has been virtually calling the shots with a hapless district and state government turning into mute spectators had threatened action against lemongrass cultivation and processing units as it was reducing the paddy and raggi cultivation area.
The small and marginal farmers are affected and they are now depending on the big farmers who have initiated the lemongrass plantation and processing units, alleged the CMAS.
People in Koraput district are living at the mercy of the CMAS activists of Bandhugaon and Narayanpatna. Yesterday trees were felled at 12 places disconnecting road communication to areas of neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. The communication has come to a total halt on these roads as the land-mines planted near the trees were clearly visible even to the common man.
Initial attempts by the district administration under the leadership of Mr Gadadhar Parida, district collector, Koraput, to negotiate with the CMAS activists of both Bandhugaon and Narayanpatna had failed to resolve the problem.
People from the non tribal communities have left many villages in Narayanpatna block for the fear of attacks and staying in the relief camps at Koraput and elsewhere for the last many days. |
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