Forest panel approves rehab of villages from Achanakmar tiger reserve on forest land

The forest advisory committee of ministry of environment, forests and climate change has approved rehabilitation of five more villages located inside the core area of Achanakmar tiger reserve, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh on reserved and protected forests spread across 706.1 hectares. The villagers from Sarasdol, Rajak, Tilaidabara, Birarpani and Chhirhatta villages would be provided with two hectares for agriculture and 0.5 hectares for building homes and associated structures.

These five villages would be the second batch that to be moved out of the tiger reserve following the rehabilitation of six villages in 2013. Fifteen more villages still exist inside the tiger reserve. A total of 365 families of the Baiga tribe community would be moved outside the tiger reserve while 21, 319 trees would be felled for rehabilitating these families. The tribe cultivates grains inside the tiger reserve and also relies on the forest for mahua, roots and firewood.

The Achanakmar tiger reserve, located 200 kms from Raipur was notified as a tiger reserve in 2009 and serves as a crucial tiger habitat close to key tiger corridors connecting the Kanha and Bandavgarh national parks. According to the chief conservator of forest Tapesh Jha, a total of 26 tigers are present in the tiger reserve according to Wildlife Institute of India's latest tiger estimation study. Chhattisgarh was one of the states that saw a rise in tiger numbers during the recent estimation from 26 to 46.

The FAC though while considering the project for forest land diversion noted that Tawadbara, one of the sites identified for rehabilitation is home to dense Sal forest over 133.40 hectares and hence it was not approved for rehabilitation of villagers. Also, while recommending diversion of 706.1 hectares for rehabilitation, the FAC has asked the Chhattisgarh government to settle the rights of forest dwellers across the concerned forest area.

Earlier in 2013, six villages – Jalda, Kuba, Bokrakachhar, Bahud, Bakal and Sambhar Dhasan – comprising of 249 families were moved out. Activists of the Nadi Ghati Morcha, Raipur, said that the relocation was conducted without an independent review of the facilities to be provided and the 'commons' area of other villagers was occupied for the relocation. "The Baiga tribes moved out in the past are suffering due to lack of civic amenities and there has been social impact assessment. Livelihood has been affected and they find it difficult to get firewood around the rehabilitated areas," said Gautam Bandopadhyay, convenor, Nadi Ghati Morcha.