RAYAGADA: Acting on the report of the revenue divisional commissioner (RDC), southern division, on alienation of tribal in Bissam Cuttack tehsil, Rayagada, collector BP Sethi restored 85.84 acres of land to 21 original owners.

At a Camp Court held at Bissam Cuttack recently, Sethi found that these lands had been illegally transferred in favour of non-tribals living in Andhra Pradesh.

Earlier, the RDC, in his inquiry report, had observed that tribal land owners of the tehsil had sold land to non-tribals. Between 1992 and 1996, 688.134 acres of land were transferred.

Sale of tribal land to non-tribals can only be effected with due permission from the tehsildar who is empowered to function as the competent authority under Orissa Scheduled Areas Transfer of Immovable Property Act. However, a tehsildar can grant permission of such transfers subject to only some conditions like non-availability of tribal buyer and fixation of a reasonable price. The collector held that these conditions were not properly adhered to.