The “procedural laps” were worried about the “voluntary” relocation of 57 families from the village of Talewadi in Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary (BWS), although the Minister of the Eshwar Khandre forest is scheduled to distribute applicants’ inspections.
The BWS in the Belagavi district adjoins the tiger Kali reserve and is surrounded by Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary and Mahadai Wildlife Sanctare of Goa and is recognized as an important tiger corridor.
Although the relocation as voluntary, Raghanendra, the activist of RTI from Dharwad, he wrote to the main Minister Siddarahaiaha and the Minister of Trade Union for the Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, who emphasized the “procedure permissions” in accordance with the law.
The activist who claimed that the consent was not obtained from Gram Sabha, said he violated the 1972 forestry Act, the Forest Rights Act and the instructions of the National Tigers’ Protection Office (NTCA).
Although the forest department organized a Gram Sabha meeting to obtain its consent in the first week of May, other activists said that Gram Sabha session should prevent the approval of the Committee project at the district level (DLC). “It cannot be an exercise after approval to prove compliance with the law,” according to activists.
It was also emphasized that the gram of Panchayat Nersa issued the villagers a night instead of leading Gram Sabha, who, according to activists, was a law.
“Although the NTCA instructions order that the free and informed gram of SABHA be compulsory before the proposals for relocation before the District Committee, it was approved without any consent and even the funds were published.
Meanwhile, release from Eshwar Khandre said that the villagers voluntarily agreed to move because they live under constant fear of wild animals.
He said that each family would receive 10 lakh control in the first phase of distribution on May 17th and once these families release forests, the remaining 5 lakhs will be paid, subject to verification and confirmation of the forest department.
The Minister said in December personally visited the area during a meeting in Belagavi and interact with forest residents. They are deprived of basic equipment such as roads, water and electricity, and therefore a voluntary relocated exercise was performed. The relocation of several other villages will also be accepted if the locals volunteers for that volunteers, he added.
Published – May 15, 2025 17:55
