Read Current Affairs
Satkosia Tiger Reserve (STR)
Context
Serious allegations have been made by local residents regarding the relocation of villages from the Satkosia Tiger Reserve (STR) in Odisha, stating that despite coexisting harmoniously with wildlife for decades, they were forcibly evicted from their ancestral villages. In view of these controversies and complaints, a high-level committee has been constituted by the Odisha government for an in-depth review and investigation of this entire process.
Main News Points
Formation and leadership of the committee: The Odisha government has constituted a high-level inquiry committee headed by the Revenue and Disaster Management Secretary, the notification for which was issued on August 17.
- Scope of the investigation: This panel will examine the entire village-wise relocation process within the STR, excluding Raiguda (which was the first relocated village that followed proper procedures).
- Investigation of legal compliance: The committee has been assigned the task of verifying whether proper compliance with applicable statutory provisions—including the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the Forest Rights Act, 2006, and the guidelines of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)—was maintained during the relocation.
- Crisis of zero tiger population: The tiger conservation history of the STR has been quite concerning; while 12 tigers were recorded in the 2007 census, only one remained by 2018-19, and not a single tiger was found in the 2022 census, with the reasons behind their disappearance remaining unresolved today.
- Identification of beneficiaries and rehabilitation: The committee will also investigate whether villagers were wrongfully excluded or included in the relocation process, and the compensation and rehabilitation provided to the affected families will be assessed.
- Corrective and punitive recommendations: The committee has been directed to suggest corrective measures such as payment of interim compensation, restoration of rights, and livelihood support. At the same time, it has been asked to identify the officials responsible for any procedural irregularities or violations and recommend departmental and criminal action against them.
Satkosia Tiger Reserve (STR)
Location: This tiger reserve is spread across the Mahanadi valley in the Angul, Cuttack, Boudh, and Nayagarh districts of the eastern Indian state of Odisha.
- Establishment and area: It was established in the year 2007, surrounded by tropical moist deciduous forests, serving as a meeting point for the biodiversity of the Eastern Ghats and central India.
- Geographical feature: One of the major rivers of the country, the 'Mahanadi', flows through this reserve, where the famous Satkosia Gorge (Mahakhadd) is located.
- Wildlife diversity: This reserve is prominently known for the conservation of tigers as well as elephants, leopards, gaur, pangolins, and especially freshwater gavials (gharials) and crocodiles.
- Conservation challenges: Human-wildlife conflict, rights related to the displacement of traditional forest dwellers (FRA 2006 issues), and the declining tiger population (zero-population status) have been the main administrative and ecological challenges here.
Conclusion
This episode of the Satkosia Tiger Reserve underlines the need to strike a balance between environmental conservation and the fundamental rights of local communities. The high-level inquiry committee should ensure a transparent and equitable solution while rectifying the flaws of the displacement.