Nilagiri: Kuladiha sanctuary in Balasore district, of the most biodiverse areas in the state, is facing a risk from growing grass cultivation by the forest department over which a controversy has broke out.
Environmentalists and locals are anguished over growing tree felling for grass cultivation inside the sanctuary, which needs protection of its flora and fauna.
Locals have strongly opposed the grass farming and have been carrying out their agitation against it. Holding the forester and ranger responsible for grass cultivation inside the sanctuary, they demanded stern action against them.
The locals affiliated to an outfit called Abhijogakari Manch warned of intensifying their agitation if action is not taken by September 28. They said they will take a series of protests and road blockades in the area.
According to reports, spread over an area of 272.75 sq km, Kuladiha is home to a large number of wild animals like elephants, hyenas, sambars, rabbits, deer, mouse deer, and a variety of reptiles.
In order to ensure adequate fodder and protect their habitat, the forest department has taken up grass cultivation in 2015-16. Under the Integrated Wildlife Habitat Development Scheme, the department spent at a `3 lakh to clear a large number of trees on 10 hectares of woodland where grass was cultivated.
However, locals living in peripheral areas refused to agree to the department’s plan of clearing trees for grass cultivation. Alleging that the forest department has failed to protect forests, the locals strongly opposed it.
They claimed that big trees have been felled and supplied out of the sanctuary while smaller ones have been burnt down on the excuse of grass cultivation. As evidence, they pointed out several stumps sticking out from the ground.
The villagers had brought to the issue to the notice of the higher authorities of the forest department and demanded a probe and action against those responsible. Over a thousand people from six villages including Tendagan and Jamghati had staged an agitation and submitted a memorandum to the district collector and sub-collector and regional chief conservator of forests (RCCF) in Baripada June 12.
Acting on the allegation, RCCF Ajit Kumar Bist, Balasore DFO Harshbardhan Udgata, ACFO Subhendu Bhuyan, forest ranger Laxman Kumar Pradhan looked into the matter by making field visits in the presence of the locals June 18.
The RCCF had recorded statements of complainants like Sunita Singh, Satyabhnma Singh, Sanatan Singh and Chandra Mohan Singh. “The department however did not make it clear about what steps were taken in this regard,” the villagers noted.
The RCCF stated that the forest department has cultivated grass by clearing trees, but action will be taken against the forest officials if they are found to be guilty of selling the felled trees.
DFO Harshbardhan Udgata said that to ensure fodder provision of herbivorous animals inside the sanctuary, grass has been cultivated over 40 hectares of land at a cost of `12 lakh in 2014-15.
In 2015-16, grass was cultivated on 10 hectares of land where trees had been uprooted by Phailin and by felling trees on road-side, he added.
He, however, said angry over crackdown on hunters and tree cutters, some people have levelled false allegations of illegal tree felling and supply against the forest officials. PNN