Voluntary relocation widened scopes for better conservation in Satkosia Tiger Reserve

By Bijay Mishra
Angul , 08-11-23

Satkosia Tiger Reserve , presently spreads over an area of 1136.70 Sq. Kms is slowly & steadily getting back its wilderness after voluntary relocation of some villages from its core & buffer area and lead to better conservation Satkosia Tiger Reserve is a biological treasure as well as important bio geographic link between the flora & fauna of Central India & South India. Satkosia is the meeting point of two bio-geographic regions of India i.e. the Deccan Peninsula and the Eastern Ghats, contributing immense biodiversity. The Tiger Reserve comprises moist deciduous forests to dry deciduous forest in association with dry Bamboo brakes and dry typical riverine forest.

The major fauna of Satkosia Tiger Reserve includes Elephant, Tiger, Wild Dog, Chousingha, Barking Deer, Mouse deer, Sloth bear, Indian gaur, Leopard, Jackal, Giant Squirrel, Indian porcupine, Ratel etc.

Tiger Reserve before  After rationalisation presently , 31 villages  are within Tiger Reserve area.In the year 2017, one village named Raigoda is relocated.

The dependency on Forest due to presence of these villages has affected the wildlife habitat resulting in to loss of both flora & fauna. Heavy biotic pressure on habitat by domestic cattle and villagers leading to habitat degradation with transmission of contagious diseases to wild animals. Intentional forest fire in the adjoining forests results heavy loss and damage of ground flora. Above all Human-Wild animal conflict is become a serious problem which results retaliatory killing of wild animals in many occasions.

In the meantime  the ambitious Tiger Translocation Project for supplementation and recovery of tiger population in Satkosia Tiger Reserve has been suspended due to death of male tiger and human casualties by the tigress. 

To prioritise biodiversity conservation ,  Wildlife authorities have stressed upon relocation of ecosystem-dependent people to secure large 'inviolate' areas of wilderness .

Voluntary relocation in Satkosia Tiger Project area is going to be a win-win situation for the people and the wildlife. The former will be benefited by accessing better education and health facilities, besides getting livelihood in one hand and on the other hand reduced disturbances in the forest will be conducive for the wildlife to thrive.

The villagers of Katrang, Tulka Revenue villages & Asanbahal Forest village , surrounded by Reserve Forests from all sides and forms a part of the buffer area of Satkosia Tiger Reserve adjacent to core area relocated voluntarily as per the prevailing guidelines of  NTCA and Govt. The Tiger management authority with regular dialogue with the villagers, developed a confidence among them for their better life, taking benefit of the present voluntary relocation package declared by the Government of Odisha.

The 120, 88, 262 eligible beneficiaries /families of Katrang, Asanbahal & Tulka villages respectively are identified by the Revenue authorities, where most beneficiaries opted for option-I without subsidiary benefits (Rs. 20.00 Lakhs per eligible beneficiary / family) except 43 families of Tulka & 66 families of Asanbahal, those opted for Option-I with subsidiary benefits (Rs.15.00 Lakhs per eligible beneficiary / family).For those families planned for resettlement at Kamaladihi & Baghuapal, with the help of local staff facilitated for land, construction of houses with other facilities like electricity and water supply.For those families of Tulka & Asanbahl village opted for cash with subsidiary benefits are resettled at a place called Dhauragoth near Tainsi village. An area of about 100 Acre of forest land has been diverted following FC Act, 1980 for the purpose. Over which all primary facilities are provided like ponds, roads, electricity, open wells, tube wells, sheds, toilets, community hall etc. with proper plotting of 10 decimal land for each family. Also with the help of line departments and District Administration livelihood supports like, goatary farming and other trainings programmes are taken up. Besides these facilities each family will be provided with houses under Awas Yojana to construct on their allotted 10 decimal of homestead land in their names.

Resettlement of relocated families of Katrang village at Laxminagar, Kamaladihi and Resettlement of relocated families of Asanbahl & Tulka village at Dhauragotha has widened the scope of conservation. 

The villagers in phased manner vacated the villages to their new sites of resettlement and finally vacated in the month of July, 2023.

After Village Relocation,  the  agriculture and fallow lands of relocated villages will be developed as good meadows and grasslands to fulfil the bare necessity of meadow in Satkosia Tiger Reserve.After relocation of the villages, there will be no interference of any kind and the area become inviolate and remain well under the control of Forest Department for immediate interventions towards wildlife management and can be included in core by extension.The pressure of thickly populated and mostly forest dependent domestic cattle on forest and habitat will be reduced to zero and which results in increase of prey base.

The relocated area will become a quality and huge grass land for herbivores and ideal hunting ground for big cats.Entry of people with vehicles, motorcycles etc. from outside the TR will be regulated & checked on the forest roads along these village area.Existing village ponds will meet the water requirement of wild animals.

The successful village relocation have widened the scope for reinstating the project suspended at present for translocation of Tigers from other TRs.