Tribals protest to scrap tiger reserve project

TNN | Jul 10, 2012, 03.31AM IST COIMBATORE: Hundreds of people from 19 tribal dominated village panchayats under Bhavani Sagar constituency, took to the streets of Sathyamangalam on Monday, demanding the closure of the proposed tiger reserve project in what used to be Veerappan's lair. The protest was organized by CPI's tribal wing Pazhamkudi Makkal Sanghom., had turned remarkable due to the larger turn out of tribals, who normally remain an elusive community. Traffic in the entire region was disrupted till late in the evening. as the protestors moved around urging The protesters want the state government to withdraw its letter of recommendation to the Union government branding the wildlife sanctuary as a tiger reserve.Thenkasi MP P Lingam inaugurated the protest near the Sathyamangalam bus stand. saying the party would stand solidly behind the tribals in their fight to live with dignity. Bhavani Sagar MLA P L Sundaram, Valparai MLA V Arumugam, campaign for Survival and Dignity leader C R Bijoy, CPI Erode district secretary K R Thirunavukarasu, Mudumalai farmers' leader P T Varghese and Nilgiri-based human rights activist M S Selvaraj also addressed the gathering. According to Bhavani Sagar MLA Sundaram, around 5,000 tribals from Thalavadi, Thiganare, Thinkalur, Panakkalli, Naithalpuram, Igalur, Thalamalai, Bainapuram, Hassanur and Germalam village panchayats thronged the venue since morning. The protestors wanted immediate implementation of Forest Rights Act of 2006 and sought permission to collect minor forest produce. They also wanted freedom to transport agricultural products through forest roads and permission to kill wild boars which destroy their farm lands. They also demanded proper compensation for those who suffered losses due to the destruction of crops by wild animals. "These tribals are the most neglected in the state. Their rights were curtailed a long time ago due to the Veerappan threat. After Veerappan's demise, the forest department had constituted several tribal forest protection committees and they functioned well, collecting and selling minor forest produce till now. Twenty seven such bodies had together made a profit of Rs 64 lakh in the last few years. Now the committees are in crisis as the forest authorities have denied them access to the forests,'' pointed out Sundaram. "We are not against tiger conservation. But it should not be at the expense of traditional forest dwellers. Denying tribals their right is beyond logic,'' he said. According to him, there would be more severe agitations in the coming days. "Other than rearing cattle and collecting forest produce, we have no other means of livelihood. Now the department has curtailed all our livelihood means in the name of tiger. It is high time the government scraps the project,'' said Pazhangudi leader P Dorai, one of the organizers of the protest. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/Tribals-protest-to-scrap-tiger-reserve-project/articleshow/14789670.cms