32 tribal families shift to STR core area

Thirty-two tribal families have been shifted from the core area of Similipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district in a bid to reduce human interference in the region.
These families have been relocated in Asankunda village following a joint effort by Mayurbanj district administration and STR authorities to persuade the tribal inhabitants to shift from the core area.
The shifting and rehabilitation in three villages inside the core area was being carried out as per guidelines issued by union Ministry of Forest and Environment, Field Director of STR Anup Kumar Nayak told PTI.
In the first phase, two villages namely Upper Barhakamuda and Kandadhenu comprising 110 members of 32 families were relocated and shifted to temporary camps at Asankudar under Thakurmunda tehsil on Sunday, he said.

The shifting was completed with allocation of 10 decimal land along with Rs 10 lakh compensation to each family. Besides, provisions like electricity, water supply and health services were made at the makeshift camp, Nayak said.
The migrant tribal members were also provided with a blanket each due to the winter chill prevailing inside Similipal.

Elaborating on the initiatives, Nayak said no force was applied with the tribal inhabitants and the process of counselling is on to motivate them for shifting.
The authorities have succeeded in motivating the villagers of Kabtghai, who have consented to be shifted to Arjunvilla colony with the package laid down for the purpose. The task would be completed by the end of March 2014, he said.

Despite the lucrative package for shifting, about 60 families of two villages, Jamuna and Bakua under Jenabill and National Park range, are reluctant to move and efforts are on to shift them, Nayak said.
"We are hopeful we will be able to motivate them in the future and the deadline would have to be extended till March, 2015", he said.