TATR chokes villagers’ income to free forest land of encroachments

Chandrapur: Discontent is brewing among villagers in Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) buffer following alleged pressure tactics of cutting down the livelihood sources adopted by the park authorities to clear the agricultural encroachments on forest land.
While guardian minister Vijay Wadettiwar has advised the department to be considerate and take action only after investigating the Forest Right Act (FRA) claims of the encroachers, park management is firm on evicting encroachers by choking their source of income through tourism.
“Buffer authorities had come with a posse of around 70 forest personnel and JCB to remove encroachments by two farmers from Agarzari around eight days back. However, they were rebuffed through united efforts of the villagers. Since then, the authorities have closed Agarzari safari circuit, butterfly garden and eco-park run by villagers,” charged Harish Kodape, sarpanch of Agarzari.
He maintained that the encroachers have been tilling the land for the last several years. Their FRA claims are still pending with the district-level committee and collector had assured no action will be taken against them till the claims are finalized, he said.
Kodape informed that 12 Gypsy owners, 12 drivers and around 25 guides have lost their livelihood due to closure of Agarzari gate. Over 30 women attached to two self-help groups that run the butterfly garden and eco-park too have lost their income. Similarly, many villagers appointed at forest kutis too have been removed, he alleged, charging the buffer authorities of using pressure tactics.
The sarpanch claimed earlier the buffer authorities had closed Junona circuit for three months after villagers had denied giving agricultural land for afforestation. Similarly, around six Gypsys from Kolara village too have been banned from safari as their owners are involved in forest encroachment.
CCF and field director NR Pravin ratified that they have closed down Agarzari gate and other livelihood sources through tourism for Agarzari villagers after they stood up to oppose removal of encroachment by two Gypsy drivers. District-level committee had rejected both the claims of Agarzari encroachers, still villagers stood up in their defence. “They (villagers) came armed with axes and chilli powder to attack the foresters who went to remove the encroachment,” said Pravin.
The field director lamented the “ungratefulness” of the villagers whom TATR with the aid of NGOs and philanthropists had helped with ration and other material to survive the initial three months of lockdown. Pravin claimed that TATR management is not against the villagers. Only the encroachments getting final rejection from FRA committee are being removed. If encroachers hand over the forest land to department, we will restart the Agarzari gate and other tourism activities, he told.
Recent scuffle between tribal forest dwellers and forest officials of TATR buffer zone had caught the headlines. Villagers filing police complaint against buffer officials and buffer authorities registering FIR against them had forced guardian minister Wadettiwar to issue warning to the forest department to be considerate with encroachers and do not remove their encroachment during peak rainy season.