Maharashtra
,
Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve
,
Chandrapur
Published :
Jan 2017
|
Updated :
Village Residents Allege Forecefull Relocation from Tadoba Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra
Reported by
Eleonora Fanari
Legal Review by
Anmol Gupta
Edited by
Anupa Kujur
Households affected
4762
People affected
2004
Year started
0
Land area affected
Households affected
4762
People Affected
2004
Year started
0
Land area affected
Key Insights
Sector
Conservation and Forestry
Reason/Cause of conflict
Protected Areas
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Rural
Ended
Sector
Conservation and Forestry
Reason/Cause of conflict
Protected Areas
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Rural
Ended
1
Summary

In 2007 in the Tadoba Andhari wildlife sanctuary in Maharashtra, 625.82 sq. km. was notified as Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH) under the Wildlife Protection Act, 2006. The notification of the CTH created an inviolate space where tribal families were not supposed to live. The new notified area comprised six villages--Botezari, Kolsa, Jamni, Ramdegi, Rantalodhi and Palasgaon--whose residents were, henceforth, not allowed to access the forest to graze their cattle on the land they had once considered their own. However, since 2004, the forest department officials had attempted to relocate the 6 villages. The authorities claimed that the relocation process was being carried out voluntarily through negotiations, however the tribal villagers said that they are being coerced and bullied by forest and revenue officials into leaving. In 2007, the 140 families of Botezari village were entirely relocated; 200 families of Ramdegi were moved out in mid-2013, and 222 families of Jamni village were relocated in March 2014. The villagers also alleged that the forest department had set the Rantalodhi village on fire to forcefully relocate the residents. The tribal residents are not happy with the forced eviction and relocation. According to a report, while Botezari was a revenue village where the tribal families had legal ownership on land, they were relocated in Bhagwanpur which is on forest land and the villagers haven't been given any ownership pattas. Furthermore, the land where they have been relocated is unfit for cultivation. Villager Rushi Soma Pendam said that they had demanded three things as part of the relocation package-Land, good agricultural facilities and financial assistance to tide them over the transition period but they got nothing. The villagers are further enraged because they have been banned to celebrate the annual procession to the shrine of their deity, Taroba, after whom the reserve is named. On February 13, 2019, tribal community members staged a protest for being denied entry into the core zone to worship their patron deity, Tadoba Dev. A month earlier, they had held a day long sit in when they were again denied entry into core zone. They have been determined to move to the high court to demand their right to enter the forest to worship. These communities are now fighting for the implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, as they are not allowed to collect forest produce, such as bamboo. The village residents claim that no one had cared to build a road earlier to connect the villages but now a new fancy road has been built for the purpose of tourism. Since 2013, the villagers have started filing for community forest rights under the Forest Rights Act, 2006. In 2016, Community forest rights of families from 5 villages were recognized and in 2020, 4 more villages got their rights recognized. However, a report by an Environmental organization states that the villagers are being continuously harassed by forest department for demanding their rights.

2
Fact Sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Demand to retain/protect access to common land/resources

Demand for legal recognition of land rights

Demand for rehabilitation

Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Region Classification

Rural

Type of Land

Common

Forest and Non-Forest, Non-Forest (Grazing Land)

What was the action taken by the police?

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)

Status of Project

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

Total investment involved (in Crores):

Type of investment:

Year of Estimation

Page Number In Investment Document:

Has the Conflict Ended?

When did it end?

Why did the conflict end?

4
Additional Information

Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:

Forest Department

PSUs Involved in the Conflict:

Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?

Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached

Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:

Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?

Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:

5
Information on the use of criminal law

What was the action taken by the police?

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Legal Supporting Documents

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Author
Reported by
Eleonora Fanari
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Fact sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Demand to retain/protect access to common land/resources

Demand for legal recognition of land rights

Demand for rehabilitation

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Status of Project

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

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Exclusive monthly policy briefs, stories from the ground, Quarterly Analytics report, Curated Expert talks, merchandise and much more.


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