ODISHA TODAY
13th August, 2009

Baripadar ( Orissa ) : As many as 223 families residing in the core area of the critical tiger habitat' inside the Simlipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in Orissa’s tribal dominated Mayurbhanj district will be shifted outside the sanctuary, officials said on Thursday.

STR sources said these families were residing in the six core area villages namely Jenabil, Bakua, Kabatghai, Jamuna and Khadia settlement (I) and Khadia Settlement (II) under Upper-Barha-Kamuda Range of Simlipal.

The oustees will be relocated in the places of their choice and according to the guidelines of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), STR sources said.

The decision was taken at the Second Rehabilitation and Periphery Development Advisory Committee meeting held here under the chairmanship of Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) Central Division Ashok Meena.

The STR and the forest department were represented by STR Field Director cum Conservator of Forest HS Upadhaya, Deputy Director Manoj V Nair and three DFOs from Rairangpur, Karanjia and Baripada.

While the displaced families have opted for their relocation at Amdiha and Kapand model housing colonies, oustees from other villages have sought their relocation at Arjunvilla near Manda forest range, sources said.

Meanwhile, an allocation of Rs ten lakh for each displaced family has been received for their resettlement and rehabilitation ensuring all basic amenities at the places of their relocation outside the Sanctuary

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