CHANDRAPUR: In a bid to give speed up relocation and rehabilitation of villages inside Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), divisional commissioner BV Gopal Reddy on Monday sanctioned several amenities for the villagers of Bhagwanpur. These people had been rehabilitated out of the tiger reserve a few years back. The new works would serve twofold motive of developing Bhagwanpur village and encouraging the remaining villages to move out of TATR.
Commissioner Reddy was here on Monday to review the status of relocating villages out of the tiger reserve as per the directives of the high court. After a marathon meeting with revenue and forest officials at the district collectorate, Reddy visited TATR and heard out the woes of villagers living inside the tiger reserve.
"He sanctioned series of amenities demanded by Bhagwanpur villagers and directed revenue and forest officials to see that they are executed in a time-bound manner. The villagers who were rehabilitated under pervious package of Rs 1 lakh, a few years back in Bhagwanpur, would get monetary incentive to compensate the loss. Also, several of their demands related to change of agricultural land, irrigation facilities, levelling and paddy-bunding of farms etc are going to the fulfilled," said CF, Chandrapur forest circle, GRK Rao, who is also project officer for the rehabilitation process.
Rao claimed that rehabilitated villagers would get incentive of Rs 47,000 each, as against the latest package of Rs 10 lakh per family of National Tiger Conservation Authority. He informed that the commissioner has approved 17 cases of change of agricultural land and directed levelling and paddy-bunding of around 30 hectares of land under National Employment Guarantee scheme in Bhagwanpur.
Moreover, the commissioner directed building of common irrigation well for small groups of farmers from Bhagwanpur under a scheme to improve irrigation facilities. Villagers were complaining since long about lack of irrigation from existing pond built for Bhagwanpur. "Common wells for small group of 7-8 farmers would help address their irrigation problem. All the works would be executed in time-bound manner," Rao added.
He further informed that commissioner agreed to relocate public health centre (PHC) from Kolsa village in TATR to the rehabilitated Bhagwanpur village, but maintained that health facilities at existing Kolsa village would continue. "A doctor would visit the village Kolsa thrice a week to provide health facilities. The commissioner has also directed revenue officials to forward a proposal seeking approval for gram panchayat status for Bhagwanpur to the government," he added. Officials have also been directed to see that Bhagwanpur villagers get ample work under employment guarantee scheme now onwards.
Rao further informed that the proposal of rehabilitating villages Jamni and Navegaon-Ramdegi under new Rs 10 lakh package has been already forwarded to the NTCA for final approval. The relocation process would be initiated after release of funds. Process for preparation of rehabilitation proposal of Palasgaon village is in the offing, he said.
"Earlier Palasgaon was scheduled to be relocated to village Bhagwanpur along with Botezari and Kolsa villages. But the entire Palasgaon village and some Kolsa villagers backed away from the rehabilitation process a few years back. Now, they have selected an alternate rehabilitation site at compartment no. 11 in Warora forest range. Soon after district collectorate approves the number of beneficiary families, a proposal for their rehabilitation would be forwarded to NTCA. The land acquired for Palasgaon villagers earlier at Bhagwanpur site would be surrendered to the government," said Rao.
Similarly, forest department has already acquired land to rehabilitate Rantalodhi villagers in compartment no. 186 of Saoli forest range, however after they backed away they were asked to select other options. As soon as they finalise the relocation site, their proposal also would be forwarded, said Rao.
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