“Procedural Error” alleged in the Bhimgad Wildlife Reserve Relocation Project

Even though Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre planned on Saturday, concerns arise in the “voluntary” relocation of 57 families in Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary (BWS).

The BWS in the Bellagarve area is adjacent to Kali Tiger Reserve and is surrounded by the Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary and the Mahadai Wildlife Sanctuary in Goa and is considered an important tiger corridor.

Although the relocation is said to be voluntary, Raghavendra, an RTI activist from Dharwad, has written to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Union Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, highlighting the “procedural barriers” to comply with the law.

The activist claims to have not obtained consent from Gram Sabha, which he said violated the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, the Forest Rights Act of 2006, and the National Tiger Conservation Agency (NTCA) guidelines.

Although the Forest Department did hold a quesaba meeting in the first week of May, other activists say the Gram SABHA meeting should be approved before the project of the Regional Committee (DLC). “It’s not a post-approval exercise after showing compliance with the law,” the activist said.

It was also noted that Panchayat Nersa of Gram had issued NOC to villagers instead of conducting Gram sabha, which, according to activists, violated the law.

“While the NTCA guidelines require that the relocation proposal be mandatory before the relocation proposal is placed before the relocation proposal is submitted to the district-level committee, the proposal was approved without any consent, even any funds have been released. Krasab approved.

Meanwhile, a release from Eshwar Khandre said the villagers voluntarily agreed to relocate because they had been afraid of wildlife.

He said each household will receive a check of Rs 1 million in the first phase of the allocation on May 17, and once these households evacuate the forest, the remaining Rs 5 million will be paid, as verification and confirmation by the forest department.

The minister said he personally visited the area during the December convention in Bellagarve and interacted with forest residents. They were deprived of basic facilities such as roads, water and electricity, and therefore a voluntary relocation campaign was underway. He added that some other villages would also be relocated if locals volunteered.