M F AHMAD
Daltonganj, Feb 1: Palamu Tiger Reserve has taken an immediate note of the demand of the Orsa rural road.
On Monday, there was a huge state highway sit-in at Mahuadanr by men, women and children for hours for the construction of the Orsa rural road.
The villagers had the impression that the PTR is the villain in the case and it is aborting the move for the construction of the Orsa rural road in the name of forest land and wolf sanctuary.
Chief conservator of forest and field director of PTR Kumar Ashutosh said, “We are proactive and our officers are sensitive to the sentiments of the people.”
“We understand the issue and the problem and accordingly measures will be taken for the amelioration of the sufferings,” he added.
He said that he has asked the deputy director of South division Mukesh Kumar to look at this issue.
Mukesh Kumar said, “We know how and what a rural road means and matters for the villagers in their day to day life.”
Only 6 kilometers of Orsa rural road falls in the forest of PTR. It is already a forest road.
Sources said as funds for repair of forest roads has not reached this financial year to the tiger reserve, no repair work could be taken up.
Mukesh Kumar said, “We could not do anything for this rural road due to lack of funds.”
He said there is a very sharp slope in this 6 kilometre stretch of Orsa rural road where any repair is bound to be eroded or washed away by the gush of water. He agreed it needs concretization or black topping.
Asked if PTR will extend co-operation in the construction of the road, Mukesh said that PTR is always for the people who live in and around the tiger reserve.
Again asked if PTR requires a formal charter of demand from the villagers for this Orsa rural road, he said for initiation of such a work, villagers or their gram sabha resolution for construction of the Orsa rural road will be highly appreciated.
When asked if there is a timeline for it, Mukesh said PTR does build or repair or takes care of its forest roads but this one is different as only a small chunk of the road falls in the forest area of the tiger reserve.
He made it clear that the PTR will see work on this road begin after due completion of forest rules and regulations where the state board of wildlife is also a stakeholder.
“The administration is free to construct the remaining piece of the road on both ends, and we are waiting for the responsible rural engineering organisation to submit its proposal, design, and other materials for the 6 kilometres of the road that run through the tiger reserve,” Mukesh added.
PTR now looks concerned about the Orsa rural road which is indicative of something good may come about it.
