Tribals seek roads, land rights and compensation at Ananthagiri PGRS

Tribal residents from Nakkula Mamidi, Amala Guda, and Murlova villages in Alluri Sitharama Raju District submitted petitions seeking road connectivity, resolution of land disputes, and compensation during the district-level PGRS programme held at Ananthagiri on Wednesday.

Carrying placards, the villagers organised a rally from the Girijana Sangham office to the MPDO office, where they met the District Collector and presented their grievances. They stated that nearly 480 PVTG families living in the remote habitations were facing severe hardship due to the absence of proper road connectivity and drinking water facilities. Villagers said temporary pathways were being laid through voluntary labour to enable borewell rigs to reach the villages.

Gadaba tribal fisherfolk from Mettapalem village under Chilakalagadda panchayat alleged that several families displaced by the Tatipudi reservoir depended on fishing in the Gosthani backwaters for their livelihood and sought government recognition and support facilities.

Tribals from Singavaram and Rompilli revenue limits also raised land-related grievances, alleging that pattas were issued to others despite tribals having cultivated those lands for years. Residents of Buriga village sought compensation for cattle killed in a tiger attack in 2023.

The District Collector received petitions from the tribal residents and directed the concerned officials to prepare road estimates and take steps to resolve the pending land and compensation issues.