By our correspondent
Agartala, January 15: Thousands of people staged a road blockade on National Highway demanding their Right to Forest land at Ambassa today. They demanded their right to forest land like tribal families. The families had been living at forest land for last 60 years. They protest- ed against the eviction notice served to them by the authorities. Prior to road blockade they had gheraoed the Head Office of Forest Department at TRTC Para since 10 a.m. today.
The incident did not continue long due to timely intervention of SDPO of Ambassa subdivision on request of Forest Officer. However, on failing to enter at Forest department they trooped to National Highway and staged the blockade there. It continued for some time. Talking to our local correspondent the agitators said that they had been living at three wards of Ambassa Municipal Council for last 60 to 65 years.
Earlier, Forest department of Ambassa had served eviction notice against their name while the municipal Council completed carpeting and matting of the roads, provided door to door drinking water via pipelines, street light and created drainage system. One of the agitator said, “we came down on road to protest against such notice and we want to convert our dwelling land to permanent land, we want that law should be made for us”.
Meanwhile Subdivision Forest Officer Jashpal Debbarma said, the notice had been sent to 780 families in different stages as per the guide lines of the State Government. He said, “it is not a eviction notice but a notice to them seeking their reply as to why they should not be evicted”.
