Demarcate KL Producing Areas, Demand Kalahandi MP & MLA

TRANSPARENCY and ethical practices in purchase of kendu leaf by private traders were strongly demanded at a high-level meeting that reviewed the plans for Kalahandi region.

- UMA SHANKAR KAR @Bhawanipatna

The meeting on Thursday was attended by elected representatives, senior officers from Forest department's kendu leaf wing (KL), district administration as well as representatives of kendu leaf pluckers' associations.

In Kalahandi, private traders from Jharkhand and Maharashtra are directly purchasing kendu leaf per the Forest Rights Act after securing permission from gram sabhas in 19 villages of nine GPs of the district.

It was alleged in the meeting that though traders make the purchases on the basis of gram sabha permission, they do not have transit permits issued by the divisional forest officer (DFO). Also, there is no clarity in the gram sabha permission on the exact size and location of deregulated areas where kendu leaf is growing and quantities produced, the meeting was told.