Finally, the demand for exclusion of 27 villages under five gram panchayats in Cuttack district from the Satakosia Tiger Reserve (STR) has been met by the State Government.
Locals led by BJD MLA Debi Prasad Mishra had placed the demand before the Government seven years back. On Friday, the matter was discussed at a meeting attended by Forest and Environment Minister Bijayshree Routray, former Minister Debi Prasad Mishra, Forest and Environment ACS Suresh Chandra Mohapatra and 20 representatives of the Jodum Pragana Anchalika Committee.
The Minister assured that the villages would be excluded from the STR and a gazette notification would be issued soon.
To a proposal of MLA Mishra and representatives, the Minister said the Kendu leaf Phadis would be opened for the people and ferry boats would run in the water body twice a week for strengthening livelihoods of the local fishermen.
Earlier, State Wildlife Board, National Wildlife Board, National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) had given permission for exclusion of the villages. Following the final decision taken by the Minister and the Secretary, committee members have thanked Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Minister Routray, Secretary Mohapatra and local MLA Mishra.
Locals like Satyaranjan Pradhan, Baikuntha Sahoo, Prabhakar Acharya, Jayakrushna Biswal, Achyuta Sahoo, Laxmikant Pradhan, Shankarshan Pradhan, Basudev Das and Lokanath Sahoo were present.