Latest news with #ForestRightsCommittee
Time of India
05-06-2025
- Time of India
Woman power leads peaceful eviction of forest encroachment
Raipur: Frontline women forest and police personnel have led an operation to clear nearly 60.7 hectares of encroached forest land in the Indagaon buffer range of Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve (USTR). Joint teams from USTR, Gariaband and Dhamtari forest divisions and Gariaband police carried out the mission as part of ongoing efforts to remove illegal settlements from wildlife protected areas. Preliminary offence reports (POR) were registered in 2021 and 2023 under Wild Life (Protection) Act and Indian Forest Act. Showcause notices were issued to the encroachers in June 2023, asking them to provide proof of possession of the forest land. The encroachers failed to submit any valid proof, and their claims for forest rights were rejected by the Forest Rights Committee. Investigations of the PORs, supported by satellite imagery from ISRO revealed that the encroachments occurred after 2008, as clearly indicated by changes in forest canopy cover. The entire eviction process was peaceful. Local villagers from Pipalkhunta and Kandsar also extended their support. Encroachers were permitted to take their personal belongings. Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve Deputy Director Varun Jain said that over the past three years, the reserve team has removed 750 hectares of encroachments from core and buffer zones, creating inviolate spaces for wildlife. He added that these anti-poaching and anti-encroachment operations have contributed to a reduction in man-animal conflict within the reserve, facilitating coexistence between the 110 villages in the area & its wildlife population. Jain also mentioned that Supreme Court, in the case of TN Godavarman vs Union of India had issued directions to Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary (as it was then known) to remove encroachments from wildlife habitats and strive to reduce human-wildlife conflicts to ensure wildlife protection. Frontline staff present during the operation included rangers Pratibha Meshram and Ramshila Dhruw, forest guards Rinki Joshi, Gunja Dhruw, Tikeshwari Sahu, Manisha Netam, Jankibai, Banita Yadav, Indumati Chauhan, Saraswati Sahu and Bhumika Sahu, along with members of the forest management committee from Pipalkhunta village. Raipur: Frontline women forest and police personnel have led an operation to clear nearly 60.7 hectares of encroached forest land in the Indagaon buffer range of Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve (USTR). Joint teams from USTR, Gariaband and Dhamtari forest divisions and Gariaband police carried out the mission as part of ongoing efforts to remove illegal settlements from wildlife protected areas. Preliminary offence reports (POR) were registered in 2021 and 2023 under Wild Life (Protection) Act and Indian Forest Act. Showcause notices were issued to the encroachers in June 2023, asking them to provide proof of possession of the forest land. The encroachers failed to submit any valid proof, and their claims for forest rights were rejected by the Forest Rights Committee. Investigations of the PORs, supported by satellite imagery from ISRO revealed that the encroachments occurred after 2008, as clearly indicated by changes in forest canopy cover. The entire eviction process was peaceful. Local villagers from Pipalkhunta and Kandsar also extended their support. Encroachers were permitted to take their personal belongings. Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve Deputy Director Varun Jain said that over the past three years, the reserve team has removed 750 hectares of encroachments from core and buffer zones, creating inviolate spaces for wildlife. He added that these anti-poaching and anti-encroachment operations have contributed to a reduction in man-animal conflict within the reserve, facilitating coexistence between the 110 villages in the area & its wildlife population. Jain also mentioned that Supreme Court, in the case of TN Godavarman vs Union of India had issued directions to Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary (as it was then known) to remove encroachments from wildlife habitats and strive to reduce human-wildlife conflicts to ensure wildlife protection. Frontline staff present during the operation included rangers Pratibha Meshram and Ramshila Dhruw, forest guards Rinki Joshi, Gunja Dhruw, Tikeshwari Sahu, Manisha Netam, Jankibai, Banita Yadav, Indumati Chauhan, Saraswati Sahu and Bhumika Sahu, along with members of the forest management committee from Pipalkhunta village.
The Hindu
08-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Minister seeks report on Nagarahole incident as tribals assert their rights under FRA
Consequent to the tribals occupying forest in Nagarahole seeking immediate settlement of their rights as per the Forest Rights Act, 2006, Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment, Eshwar B. Khandre, has sought a report from the local officials on the ground situation. The Minister's response stems from the increase in tension in the tiger reserve where scores of tribals have stayed put near Karadikallu, resulting in a stand-off between the Forest Department and them. Though the Forest Department has maintained that the applications under Forest Rights Act have to be cleared by the Forest Rights Committee or gram sabha, the tribals have claimed that the authorities were sitting on their applications despite furnishing all documents. Mr. Khandre said that the report, including the court orders and the action taken report on resettlement or recognition of tribal rights, should be furnished to him in two days. Sources said the tribals were taking turns and continuing to remain in the forest despite pleas from the authorities to disperse. The tribal representatives have claimed that they are only asserting their rights as they are the original inhabitants of the forests and the FRA only affirms their existing rights and was not bestowing new rights.
