So far, eight villages have been relocated from MTR and there are 26 more to go. Of these, seven are in Akot wildlife division and others in Sipna and Gugamal divisions. The Rs 10 lakh per family package and its sincere implementation are obviously having an effect. Nineteen villages are going in for it while only seven are seeking resettlement by the forest department.
The 230 sq km Dhargad forest range has high density of wildlife including tigers. So relocating it would provide instant conservation benefit. However, funds aren't coming in fast enough. If Dhargad is shifted, there will be a continuous stretch of 25 km forest between Koktu and Gullarghat without any human presence.
A K Mishra, field director & chief conservator of forests (CCF), MTR, said Rs 14.10 crore wee needed for the village at Rs 10 lakh per family. "We have received Rs 3.70 crore and expect another Rs 7 crore under Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority ( CAMPA). If money is received early, we expect Dhargad to move out by March."
The Dhargad villagers have identified 41 hectare E Class land in Dharur (Ramapur), 12 km from Akot. The villagers have been waiting for the past six years to move out but successful relocation of Bori, Koha and Kund villages in 2003 and Amona, Nagartas, Barukheda, Churni and Vairat in 2011 has made them impatient. They are so much in hurry that at times they vent ire on visiting forest officials.
Ex-sarpanch Pundlik Godmale (48) called for speedy relocation. "Being a tiger reserve, there is restriction on cattle grazing and collection of minor forest produce (MFP). Besides, encounters with tigers and sloth bears are frequent. There is no school and transportation facility. The lone ST bus between Akot and Barukheda is being shut," he informed. Read the full report here.
Source: Vijay Pinjarkar, TNN, Nagpur.
