At a time when relocation of villages from tiger habitats and protected areas is being proposed through CAMPA funds, a section of environmentalists in a letter to Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan, has pointed out that there should be no more funds for relocation without establishing a democratic process. This has, however, sparked off controversy among wildlife experts.
The letter jointly written by Ashish Kothari, Shiba Desor and Neema Pathak from Kalpavriksh Pune, pointed out that Wild life Protection Amendment Act of 2006 and Forest Rights Act of 2006, require that any relocation can only take place after recognition of rights and consent of gram sabha to the relocation. Yet, in implementation, the old approach of relocation continues. Under the garb of 'voluntary' relocation, people are forced to move out without complete knowledge of the options available to them, they stated.
They further pointed out that the notifications of critical tiger habitats are themselves open to question for being in violation of the law. The guidelines for Critical Wildlife Habitat are lying in cold storage since 2011. Even in the case of tourism in tiger habitats, the guidelines submitted by NTCA are not on detailed conservation and management including on how co-existence will be achieved in buffer zones.
They have called for detailed investigation of the ongoing violations in the relocation process and corrective actions for revising the process of relocation.
They have also written for detailed guidelines on co-existence in Protected Areas finalised with public consultation. The letter has stressed on implementation of FRA in Protected Areas, especially Tiger Reserves, which according to them is poor and almost no relocation has followed the requirement of prior recognition of rights.
According to Kishore Rithe, Standing Committee member, National Board For Wildlife, (NBWl) the villages living inside Sanctuaries, National Parks and core of Tiger Reserves have already been co-existing with wildlife for generations.
"Yet, this has neither helped in reducing their crop losses, attacks on humans and livestock nor could the landless families get agricultural land.
Hence, finally some of the villages have come forward and asked the State Government to relocate them. The decision of the villagers on relocation should thus be respected. These villages have fundamental right of getting their villages relocated close to market. Asking MoEF to stop funding under CAMPA to such villages who are willing to get “relocation package” would be anti-tribal, he pointed out.