The dwellers inside Chandaka-Damapada wildlife sanctuary lead a miserable life where they are deprived of basic amenities since long ago.
There are more than five villages like Dahanigadia, Pithakhia, Behendasahi, Nuakua and Dholkatha, where scarcity of drinking water is acute these days.
Since the villages remain within the boundary of the sanctuary, the forest officials here have stood as a barrier to their freedom. They have been traditional settlers in the sanctuary since Damapada was a princely State. When the State Government took over the charges of the forests, the area fell under Chandaka-Damapada wildlife sanctuary.
In the initial days, they were treated as friends of the department and used to manage their business from forest products. However, subsequently, the villagers were harassed by the forest officials in many respects. They faced a lot of trouble when the sanctuary was fenced.
Since then the entry of their relatives was barred. Even though the villagers have obtained identity card from the department, sometimes the gate keepers don’t let them move freely. The department restricted electric connection to the villages since it was declared a sanctuary.
No communicable road is there for which during rainy season they suffer a lot, told Dilip Behera, a villager of Dahanigadia. They have been reeling under scarcity of drinking water, but there is none to heed.
Contacted, Sarpanch of Damapada Devendra Kumar Dhalsamant said he had arranged water tankers for supplying drinking water to the villages. But sometimes forest officials create hurdle during entry, he opined.
ACF Kasinath Mishra said that since 1993 these villagers were given notice to leave the jungle and they were also compensated. As they don't leave the jungle, there is order from the higher authority to keep a vigil on their activities and restrict their entry.