Two Indian Administrative Service (IAS) Officers have come under the scanner for allegedly selling tribal land to non-tribals in Bastar region of Chhattisgarh.
A high-level probe conducted by Bastar Commissioner K Srinivasalu on the instruction of Chhattisgarh government indicted K R Pisda and Rina Baba Sahab Kangle for allegedly violating the norms. Under the norms, tribal land cannot be sold to a non-tribal.
The state government had received more than 60 complaints from Bastar and Dantewada district—both tribal predominated—where the land of poor tribals was sold to non-tribal. “Since the number of complaints was alarming in Bastar region, a high level inquiry was ordered,” revenue minister Amar Agrawal said.
The inquiry revealed that land was sold during the tenure of Pisda and Ms Kangle when they were posted in Dantewada district. However, the officials posted in Bastar district earlier had escaped the scanner despite a large tribal land was sold to non-tribals in the district.
Pisda is at present posted as Director of Rajiv Gandhi Shiksha Mission while Ms Kangle is District Collector of Durg.
“The state government is examining the report that it has received regarding the selling of tribal land,” state’s chief secretary P Joy Oommen said. After examining the report, decision will be taken to take action against the officials involved in the irregularities, he added.
Officials said that the land was sold to non-tribals who had purchased property in the tribal areas for investment and commercial purposes. Of the land, most had been procured for setting up small and ancillary industries in the area besides developing major housing projects. Officials said that a few other senior officials would also be indicted in the case.
Jagdalpur Additional Collector D R Mandvi has also been found guilty in the inquiry report but no Collector had been indicted despite the fact that the latter was also equally responsible.
