‘The Hitavada’ stands vindicated on KVNP report
| Date :17-Jul-2019 |
By Roshan Chachane:
RAIPUR
The Hitavada stands vindicated as the Forest Department’s investigation team verified the newspapers report of mass scale tree felling and wild animal hunting in the Koleng, Mundagarh and Kasirras forests of Kanger Valley National Park (KVNP) following the visit to these areas. Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF) Kanger Ghati National Park Divya Gautam-led team visited the villages of Tulsidongri, Koleng, Mundagarh and Kasir Ras. However, the team couldn’t visit the tulsidongri due to heavy rains. The team found following facts during the investigation: forests near Koleng, Mundagarh and Kasirras (which falls under the Bastar general Forest Division’s Koleng range) had a large number of trees being cut or burnt to make farmlands/grounds. Stumps of these trees still stand on the ground, which certifies the large scale tree cutting. There has been large scale ‘Girdling’ done in forests.
Since, all the villages mentioned in the report are highly Naxal-affected, villagers didn’t agree for statement/report. On being interrogated about the farmlands, villagers claimed of having lease (Patta), but couldn’t show the documents. So it is necessary to examine the Forest Rights Certificates in these areas. Although, the team couldn’t find any solid evidence of the illegal hunting, but possibility of hunting can’t be fully discarded. A local villager Chaitur at Kasirras told the investigating officers that two of his goats were hunted by Wild Dogs (Dhole) in the March this year. He had applied for compensation with a Beat Guard, but so far no action has been taken on his application. There was apparent dejection and dissatisfaction in the statement of the Chaitur. In the absence of compensation, villagers often try to revenge killing by setting up snares. There is also a tradition of ‘Parad’ prevalent in the area.
Villagers need to be made aware about the harmful consequences of this tradition, under which they storm into the forest and kill whichever animal they see. It’s important to note that The Hitavada reporter had forayed into these far-flung forests to gather pieces of evidences of tree felling and hunting of wild animals with photographic evidences. As the news from these, earlier untouched places, came out, the Forest Department constituted the investigation team and dispatched it to these regions. The team has now furnished its report.