Activists have flagged rule violations in the Kali Tiger Reserve relocation project, which has resulted in villagers being moved outside the forests, as no approval from Grama Sabhas was obtained or meetings held before the exercise was carried out.
While the exercise was touted as a model for voluntary relocation and rehabilitation, information obtained through RTI from activists indicates violations of the law.
Under the scheme, relocation of forest dwellings requires the approval of the respective gram sabhas. Only after receiving his approval, proposals can be submitted to the district committee headed by the deputy governor of the relevant district. This is as per the guidelines of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and also as per the guidelines of the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
However, information gathered from various Gram Sabhas in Uttara Kannada district, where the scheme is being implemented, reveals that in many places no meetings were held at all.
Incidentally, MLC Shantaram Siddi raised the issue in the Council earlier this year and Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre informed the House that 498 families have been relocated from the Kali Tiger Reserve between 2020 and 2025 after payment of compensation.
According to the ministers’ reply, the families were relocated from villages and hamlets under Anshi, Ulavi, Kateli, Gangoda, Bajarkunang, Nandigadde, Badakan-Shirada, Kadra and Pradhani Gram Panchayats, spread across Dandeli, Joida and Karwar taluks.
However, information obtained through RTI indicates that in many places, including Ulavi, Gangoda, Nandigadde, Badakan-Shirada, Kadra, Gotegali and Ambikanagar, no Gram Sabha meetings were held during the relocation period and the legal requirement was ignored or circumvented on many occasions, according to activists.
The MLC also informed the Council that 32 families were relocated from villages under Gangoda Gram Panchayat, 15 families from Kalabhavi village under Badakan-Shirada Panchayat and 18 families from Sulali village under Kadra Panchayat.
But sources said the respective panchayats confirmed that no Gram Sabha meetings were held.
Questions arise as to how the relocation proposals were approved by the district-level committee without the approval of the Gram Sabhas as mandated by law. Activists question the conservation model in which local communities have been relocated without the consent of Gram Sabhas while tourism is promoted, highlighting the government’s skewed policies.
Published – 14 Dec 2025 19:05 IST
