Encroachers on forest land bigger threat to Tadoba than coal block

Nagpur: While the threat of mining in Bander coal block, located in the eco-sensitive zone of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), has been warded off, a bigger damage to the park is likely to be caused by encroachments on forest land in the core and buffer areas. The land parcels, though in bits and pieces, is totally more than the area of the coal block.
The efforts of NGOs and others helped save 1,633 hectares of rich forest in the Tadoba corridor.The encroachments, as per official figures is, 2,432 hectare — 232ha in core and 2,200ha in buffer.
Since the enactment of Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006, ownership titles have been granted on 320 hectares of forest land to 367 people in Tadoba buffer by the district level committee (DLC). In core area, 54 individuals have been allotted 62 hectare land under FRA. This is apart from the encroached land.
Tadoba officials launched anti-encroachment drive and issued preliminary offence report in March 2019 against 1,100 encroachers who had occupied 1,700 hectare forest land. “Since then, notices have been served twice to encroachers to vacate the land but no one has responded,” they said.
The anti-encroachment drive on June 26 met with stiff resistance from activists like Paromita Goswami and Raju Zode. The police in Ram Nagar registered an offence against Zode for preventing government employees from discharging duty.
Goswami said she doesn’t know about the number of encroachments. “But after going through documents of some tribals from Sirkada, I can surely say they were evicted even as their claims were cleared by sub-divisional level committee (SDLC) and are now pending before the DLC,” she said.
However, Tadoba officials claim 70% of encroachers are non-tribals. “These encroachments are not only blocking tiger corridors but also destroying wildlife habitat. Last month, a young male tiger (KT1) mauled 5 villagers from Kolara, Satara and Bamangaon. As wildlife habitats are encroached, tigers are moving towards villages,” they said.
Claiming that she doesn’t support encroachments, Goswami said, “Action can be taken against those who don’t have requisite proof of residence for three generations or those who have encroached upon forest land after the cut-off date of December 13, 2005.”
The activist said no prior notice was given to people. “Forest officials acted in haste by removing crops. Due to Covid, people are a harried lot and forest action has come at a wrong time,” said Goswami.
The three villages have illegally encroached upon more than 200 hectare forest land in core area, according to G Guruprasad, deputy director (buffer). “Two out of 5 human deaths have occurred on encroached forest land,” he added.
As per 2019 tiger estimation report released by WII, Tadoba buffer zone has 43 tigers and core 72.
With the latest action in Shivni and Sirkada, FRA activists have upped their ante against officials. A video grab with TOI shows the activists threatening the Shivni range forest officer and encouraging people to encroach upon forest land.
Chandrapur collector & DLC chairman Kunal Khemnar said, “The rights of encroachers who were removed were rejected in January. Only 17 encroachments have been removed so far. As per satellite imagery, these happened after 2005 (some are even in 2013 & 2015). It is true that offences have been registered against violators a year ago.”
Khemnar said a meeting will be held this week on the pending proposals. “Till then forest officials have stopped the drive. They will verify list of encroachments for pending proposal and then go ahead,” said the collector.
“The list of 1,100 encroachers shows that 80% have agriculture land either in their or in the name of family members. They are not solely dependent on forest for their livelihood. Satellite images have been verified and show how encroachments have blocked corridors,” said Tadoba officials.
Bandu Dhotre, president of NGO Eco-Pro said, “We will always support forest department against encroachments.”