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A momentous event in Sariska

JAIPUR: The settlers inside the Sariska Tiger Reserve in Alwar district of Rajasthan have started moving out after an agreement with the park authorities marking the beginning of better days ahead for the much-maligned habitat, which had lost all its tigers two years back. The occasion was surely momentous as the breakthrough came after many years of wait and relentless pursuit on the part of the park authorities.

Yet there were no celebrations as three Canters moved out of the park premises on Wednesday carrying the belongings of three families from Bhagani, first of the four villages to be shifted out in the initial phase. The families, belonging to the Gujjar community, who have been surviving on forest produce and cattle rearing, will begin their life anew at Bardod Rund, a locality 95 km from the reserve near Behror town along the Delhi-Jaipur stretch of National Highway No.8.

“We kept it a low-key affair as we were apprehensive of last-minute problems. Once a beginning is made, then the rest of it can be taken care of,” said R.N. Mehrotra, Chief Wildlife Warden of Rajasthan, talking to The Hindu.

“We know the importance of the occasion but we wanted it to happen first,” said the warden, who managed to keep it totally out of the sight of the prying media as well.

“The occasion calls for jubilation. It has happened in Rajasthan after 30 years. The last shifting of any village from a tiger reserve was in 1978 in Ranthambhore,” observed Rajpal Singh, a member of the Rajasthan Tiger Task Force.

Bardod Rund, a prime location — going by the land value in the region falling in National Capital Region — now awaits families from Kankwari, Kiraska and Umri, the villages chosen for shifting, besides Bhagani. The State Forest Department, with active support of the Centre and the State Government and the National Tiger Conservation Authority, has earmarked 222.67 hectares for rehabilitation in the first phase of the programme.

The land in Bardod Rund belongs to the Forest Department and its status is not to change even after it turns into a rehabilitation village. The department has made the place liveable after clearing it and ensuring basic amenities. Out of the 21 houses the Bhagani families would need, 17 are ready. “The villagers are moving out on their free will. Each family has been offered six bighas of land and a cash assistance of Rs.one lakh to build their houses. All the families have opened their own bank accounts and each family so far has been paid Rs.70,000”, said P.S. Somashekar, Field Director of Sariska Tiger Reserve, the man behind the whole exercise.

The beginning of the process surely remained a smooth affair despite apprehensions. “In fact they were scheduled to move out on Tuesday but the reluctance on the part of the families to be the first ones to shift held them back for another day. Their worry in being the pioneers is understandable as if anything goes wrong the blame too would go to them,” said Mr. Somashekar.

In Sariska, the leader took the risk to be the pioneer. Radhey Shaym, who led the first of the three families, is president of the Eco Development Committee, formed to facilitate the re-location of villages and rejuvenation of the park.

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