Tendu patta centres operating near Koka

Nagpur: In blatant violation of government orders, tendu collection centres have been set up within 500 metres of Koka Wildlife Sanctuary in Bhandara district, encouraging people to collect leaves from the protected area.
One of the biggest employment providers to lakhs of local villagers, the month-long tendu leaves’ collection season is at its peak at the moment in entire Vidarbha region.
However, as per government orders issued in the year 2000, no tendu collection centres, called as ‘falis’ in local parlance, should be set up within 3km from any national parks or sanctuaries. There are 10 falis (centres) in one unit. At least seven such centres are operating around Koka within 500 metres from its boundary. The 100sqkm sanctuary is a part of Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR).
The tendu collection centres close to Koka include Dudhara, Gondsawri, Rengepaar, Kesalwada, Kesalwada (Pawar), Palaspani and Dhiwarwada. Sources said, in a day or two one more centre is expected to open in Mandwi, which is also near Koka.
“In the last seven days, we have caught at least 70 locals from Diwarwada, Dodmazari, Kawlewada, Garada, Dudhara, Rengepaar, and Sonegaon who were found collecting tendu patta from Koka sanctuary. The material was seized from the villagers who were later let off after a spot panchnama,” said Koka range forest officer (RFO) Sachin Jadhav.
“The next day when we opened one of the consignments, we found a dead hare, perhaps poached by one of the locals who had entered the sanctuary,” claimed Jadhav.
On the contrary, Bhandara deputy conservator of forests (DyCF) Vivek Hoshing said, “All these centres are 3km away from the park. These centres have been collecting tendu patta since 2012. Places like Dudhara and Kesalwada doesn’t even fall in the buffer zone. I have not received any complaint about tendu being collected from the sanctuary.”
Though on paper these collection centres are 3km away from the park’s boundary, the reality is different. A physical verification can only reveal these centres are within 500m from the boundary.
A section of Bhandara NGOs said these centres may be operating with the blessings of the range forest officers (RFOs) but now that it has been pointed out, the practice must be stopped.