After Melghat, relocated villagers storm Navegaon tiger reserve
Vijay Pinjarkar | TNN | Feb 26, 2019, 05:39 IST
NAGPUR: In a repeat of the Melghat episode, over 200 relocated villagers including children and women, stormed Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR) on Monday to protest against unfulfilled promises.
On Monday, the squatters marched towards Kokna gate of Navegaon, 130km from here, demanding revision of rehabilitation package which includes one-acre farm land, refund of Rs2 lakh deducted towards transportation and other charges from the Rs10 lakh per family package, certificates of projected-affected persons (PAPs) to each person in the family and a host of other demands.
Divisional forest officer (DFO) of NNTR Uttam Sawant said the demands don’t seem commensurate with law and hence difficult to fulfil. “Around 375 families from Kawlewada, Zankargondi and Kalimati villages were relocated to Shreerampur near Saundad in 2013 under Option I (package of Rs10 lakh per adult). These villagers had voluntary opted for relocation as per Option I (Rs10 lakh package) per family, in which person above 18 years was considered one family,” he said.
Sawant informed there is actually no balance money to be paid and villagers have some misconceptions. “There may be some issues with only 5% of the people,” he added.
Sawant said these villagers have been visiting relocated villages or those in process from Tadoba, Melghat and Umred-Karhandla where people in each family went for both options with some members opting for Rs10 lakh and some for Option II, where government will take up relocation. “They want similar type of relocation now, which is not possible,” he said.
Moreover, Sawant added as per rules there is no provision of land to be given under Option I. “The relocated families are making unwarranted demands like payment of balance amount of around Rs2 lakh, agriculture land, government job etc. We have distributed LPGs to them and given vocational training to youths for self-employment,” he said.
Bharat Pandhre, sarpanch of Shreerampur, who led the people’s march says, “Our relocation was not done as promised. We will not leave the place till chief minister’s office takes note of our demands.”
This is the second time when these villagers have entered the tiger reserve. Earlier, in June 2015, they had entered the park and started farming. They were vacated by using force. Recently, the Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court took a strong stand against Melghat squatters who damaged the reserve by setting it afire and attacking over 50 forest and police staff.
Fearing a repeat of the Melghat episode, the NNTR has deployed STPF and police force. Every activity of the villagers is being videographed and monitored through drone. “This is forest fire season and there is possibility of people setting forest on fire,” said officials.
Till filing of this report, negotiations with forest and revenue department officials had failed and the villagers were still inside Navegaon.
On Monday, the squatters marched towards Kokna gate of Navegaon, 130km from here, demanding revision of rehabilitation package which includes one-acre farm land, refund of Rs2 lakh deducted towards transportation and other charges from the Rs10 lakh per family package, certificates of projected-affected persons (PAPs) to each person in the family and a host of other demands.
Divisional forest officer (DFO) of NNTR Uttam Sawant said the demands don’t seem commensurate with law and hence difficult to fulfil. “Around 375 families from Kawlewada, Zankargondi and Kalimati villages were relocated to Shreerampur near Saundad in 2013 under Option I (package of Rs10 lakh per adult). These villagers had voluntary opted for relocation as per Option I (Rs10 lakh package) per family, in which person above 18 years was considered one family,” he said.
Sawant informed there is actually no balance money to be paid and villagers have some misconceptions. “There may be some issues with only 5% of the people,” he added.
Sawant said these villagers have been visiting relocated villages or those in process from Tadoba, Melghat and Umred-Karhandla where people in each family went for both options with some members opting for Rs10 lakh and some for Option II, where government will take up relocation. “They want similar type of relocation now, which is not possible,” he said.
Moreover, Sawant added as per rules there is no provision of land to be given under Option I. “The relocated families are making unwarranted demands like payment of balance amount of around Rs2 lakh, agriculture land, government job etc. We have distributed LPGs to them and given vocational training to youths for self-employment,” he said.
Bharat Pandhre, sarpanch of Shreerampur, who led the people’s march says, “Our relocation was not done as promised. We will not leave the place till chief minister’s office takes note of our demands.”
This is the second time when these villagers have entered the tiger reserve. Earlier, in June 2015, they had entered the park and started farming. They were vacated by using force. Recently, the Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court took a strong stand against Melghat squatters who damaged the reserve by setting it afire and attacking over 50 forest and police staff.
Fearing a repeat of the Melghat episode, the NNTR has deployed STPF and police force. Every activity of the villagers is being videographed and monitored through drone. “This is forest fire season and there is possibility of people setting forest on fire,” said officials.
Till filing of this report, negotiations with forest and revenue department officials had failed and the villagers were still inside Navegaon.
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