The forest department is contemplating rehabilitation of hamlets created from newly-declared Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary (BWS) in an attempt to consolidate wildlife habitat. The department is planning to send a proposal to the government requesting a special package in this regard.Around 13 hamlets and private lands are enclosed within the boundaries of BWS. At present, the villagers are living in harsh conditions - no road connectivity, lack of schools, cattle and crop depredation by wild animals, human and animal conflicts and restrictions on developmental activities in the forest area.
Girish Hosur, deputy conservator of forests, said it was better to relocate the villagers by providing fair compensation packages. Hosur, who prepared the five-year management plan for the BWS and will submit it soon to the government, said the relocation would help the animals survive with larger forest space covers devoid of any interference, he said.
According to him, relocation of the population should be done in phases. The remote hamlets such as Mendil, Holda, Pali and Krishnapur should be taken in the first phase as there are only 10-15 households there. In the second phase, Amagaon, Pastoli, Jamgaon, Talewadi and Degaon should be taken up followed by Gavali, Kongla, Hemmadaga and Abnali in the third phase.
In the management plan, Hosur mentioned that most villagers had migrated to Goa in search of employment. But, those villagers who had stayed back, Hosur said, practiced subsistence agriculture by growing paddy and other millets. Primitive and uneconomical agriculture practices were being adopted in these villages.
An edited version of this article can be read from the link below:
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-16/hubli/31201085_1_villagers-hamlets-management-plan
An edited version of this article can be read from the link below:
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-16/hubli/31201085_1_villagers-hamlets-management-plan
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