Shifting of Sariska villages yet to begin

Jaipur, June 10 (UNI) The much-awaited shifting of villages from Sariska Sanctuary is yet to begin in right earnest.

Mr Somshekhar, field director of Sariska Project Tiger sanctuary, told UNI, ''The shifting of villages has not started and it depends majorly on relocation of the villagers. The first phase of shifting will include two villages, Kankawadi and Bhagani, whose people have agreed to move out. But people of other villages will have to be negotiated with to make them move out in reality.'' There are 11 villages in the core area, a temple and two state highways - the Sariska-Kalighati-Tehla road and the Alwar-Sariska-Thanghazi Road cut through the forest. There is a proposal to shift 28 villages from the forest.

Although the compensation package has been fixed for the villagers, the proposal of shifting is still in the pipeline. Mr Somshekhar said, '' We are hopeful that the shifting process will start soon, hopefully by this year.'' The Sariska Sanctuary is seeking a National Park status which requires that some villages in the core area, if not all will have to be cleared off the forest. There are several villages in the forest's buffer zone.

Moreover, Sariska has been in the news lately with no tigers left in this famous tiger sanctuary.

The primary notification to declare part of the core as National Park was issued in 1982. Final notification is pending in view of the need of relocation of some villages from the Park.

But as villagers are the major stakeholders in the sanctuary, with much of their livelihood depending on the forest, the shifting out can become a sensitive issue. But relocation is definitely going to prove effective both for the wildlife and the villagers.

Sources say the government has sanctioned Rs 70 lakh for the initial two villages.

''There's a lot of complicity involved in the entire shifting out process and support has to be garnered from all qaurters before the process actually begins. It is important to keep the diversity of Aravallis intact,'' Mr Somhekhar added.

Sariska, situated in the erstwhile Alwar state is spread over 800 square km. It is nestled against the backdrop of the majestic Aravallis, and was initially maintained as a hunting preserve for the royalty.

The reserve was upgraded to a sanctuary in 1958.

UNI RRT AK BST1521