By The Hindu Bureau
Copyright thehindu
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has ordered a probe into allegations that the Odisha Forest Department fraudulently obtained villagers’ consent for relocation from the core areas of Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR).
The probe was initiated after representations by residents of Bakua village in Mayurbhanj district, alleging that the Similipal Tiger Reserve authorities used unlawful means to obtain clearance for forest diversion and relocation of villages from the tiger reserve.
“We are submitting our grave concerns and seek immediate intervention as per law: STR authorities have been making clandestine attempts to evict us without our Gram Sabha’s prior informed consent, which amounts to blatant violation of sections 4(1), 4(2), 4(5) and 7 of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006, read with section 38(V) (5) of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, and section 3(1)(g) of the SC & ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989,” Baku Gram Sabha says in letter to the ministry.
Forest diversion
Residents further said, “it has come to our knowledge that the STR authorities are covertly planning to evict us from Bakua village and relocate us to a ‘Land Bank’ proposed to be created through forest diversion at Pahadpur village of Baunsanali Gram Panchayat, Jashipur Block.”
“We came to know that an online proposal for diversion of 21.659 hectares of forest land was submitted wherein several documents and facts therein have been fabricated and manipulated by the deputy director, Similipal North Wildlife Division,” they alleged.
Opposing relocation from STR, Bakua villagers demanded that the Ministry of MoEF and Climate Change should deny Stage I clearance for diversion of the land where they would be relocated.
