Baripada: The efforts being taken by the authorities of Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) and the district administration to evacuate people living in the core area have brightened the prospects of Similipal sanctuary getting national park status.
According to reports, 47 more families were shifted out of the core area Saturday.
The Central government had announced a proposal to accord 303 square km area of Similipal’s total 2,750 sq/km area as national park in 1980. But the proposal has not been executed as people living in the core area have not been relocated. In 1986, the proposed sanctuary area was expanded upto 845 sq/km.
However, the STR authorities and the district administration have been pulling out all the stops to ensure national park status to Similipal.
Meanwhile, 47 families, who lived at Kabataghai in the core area, were shifted from there and rehabilitated at Manda under Jashipur block Saturday. Sources said the district administration and the forest department are doing everything possible to provide the families basic facilities at the rehabilitation centre.
In 1973, the tiger project was launched in Similipal. Some local people were kept in the core area to assist the officials of the project, who had come from outside. The local people were kept at Barakamuda, Yamunagad, Bahaghar, Bakua and Kabatghai in the core area.
However, the sanctuary was deprived of getting national park status due to presence of these people in core area.
The STR authorities have been continuing relocation of people from the core area since 2013. The residents of Upara Barakamuda and Bahaghar were relocated while 35 families were shifted out of Jamunagad and rehabilitated at a temporary camp at Nabara of Udala block in September, 2015.
Before shifting the residents of Kabataghai, a gram sabha was held in this regard March 21, 2016. With the help of the district administration, STR authorities and residents finalised the displacement March 30.
The relocated residents will be provided cooked food for seven days, provision of rations for three months and drinking water at the temporary camp.
As per guidelines, each family will be given Rs 10 lakh, 10 decimal of land and a housing unit under government-sponsored scheme.
Now, 63 families are left to be relocated from the core area. “It will pave the way for Similipal to get national park status if 60 families in Bakua and three in Jamunagad area shifted outside,” said Ajit Kumar Satpathy, deputy director of STR. He sought cooperation from all quarters. PNN
