M F AHMAD
Daltonganj, Jan 18: The National Tiger Conservation Authority and the Jharkhand government have pooled a total of Rs 26 crore for the relocation of 210 households of Latu and Kujrum villages in the Palamu Tiger Reserve’s (PTR) core area.
Notably, The land measuring 299 hectares where inhabitants of Latu and Kujrum are to be relocated has got stage one clearance even.
As works for the relocation of two villages in the core area of the PTR are in the advanced stage, more and more villages are inclined to move out of the core area, said sources.
Taking a cue from Latu and Kujrum, A total of 430 households of Polpol, Chapiya, Totkee, Nawarnago and Tanwai villages, which are in the core area of the PTR, have held their gram sabhas each and resolved to be relocated.
Notably, Gram Sabha is a must and consent to relocation is to be voluntary and not under temptation, coercion or pressure.
The deputy director of the North division of PTR Kumar Ashish sent a proposal for the relocation of the five villages (Polpol, Chapiya, Totkee, Nawarnago and Tanwai) to the chief conservator of forest and field director PTR Kumar Ashutosh on January 17 for its furtherance to the NTCA demanding Rs 89.25 crore under the CAMPA APO.
Ashish today confirmed this saying that the gram sabhas of these five villages have resolved to move out of the core area of the PTR.
He said the PTR is all out to relocate these villages with dignity and with all vital monetary assistance of Rs 15 lakhs per beneficiary.
Moreover, A proposal for relocation of three other villages of the core area of the PTR (Turer, Tumera and Korwadeeh) sent by the PCCF and CWLW on Jan 28, 2022, is lying with the NTCA for the sanctioning of the proposal of relocation.
Ashish added that the gram sabhas of each of these three villages have consented to in written resolution to be relocated.
He said, “We have thus 10 villages of our core area of the PTR for relocation. The break up is like Latu and Kujrum (2), Polpol, Chapiya, Totkee, Nawarnago and Tanwai (5) and Turer, Tumera and Korwadeeh (3). The common thing about these 10 villages is that their gram sabhas have voluntarily readied and consented to their relocation.”
He further said, “Relocation of two villages is just in the starting process. The proposal for the relocation of three villages is with NTCA for sanctioning. The proposal for the relocation of five villages lies with the chief conservator of forest and field director of PTR here.”
Ashish said these 10 villages are the responsibility of the PTR and the PTR is committed to a better living on their relocation.
Furthermore, there is a different kind of relocation of seven more villages which are not in any of the areas of the PTR. These villages namely Khaira, Khura, Bhajna, Kutku, Sanya, Chemo and Meral are to be relocated as these villages fall under the ‘Doob Chhetra’ of the Mandal dam.
These villages are the responsibility/liability of the state irrigation department. The PTR is in no way related or connected to these seven villages.
However, Ashish said, “Although these villages are to be taken care of by the state irrigation department, we in the PTR look forward to their equally decent and productive relocation as well like that of our 10 villages. The PTR is eager to see their relocation.”
