Corruption at lower level, political influence emboldening illegal grazing
   Date :05-Feb-2024

Corruption at lower level 
 
 
 
 
 By Kaushik Bhattacharya
 
  
Rampant illegal grazing of cattle, particularly of Kathiyawadi cow (Gir cow), on forest land in Nagpur division has emerged as a multi-dimensional issue in the past over a couple of decades or so. Apart from leading to conflicts between those bringing these cows to the region from outside and the locals, the illegal grazing has major implications for loss of habitat for wildlife, and feeding issues for local cattle for decades. Though the Forest Department is very well aware about the illegal grazing by Kathiyawadi cows that are brought mainly from Gujarat, no stern action has been taken so far against the Kathiyawadi tribe people who come every year to Vidarbha with their huge livestock. This has led to the spoiling of grasslands in the region. Keeping the threat of such illegal grazing in mind, the State Government had come out with a Government Resolution (GR) way back in November 2011, banning such grazing by livestock from outside Maharashtra. The intention of the Government was to curb grazing by Kathiyawadi cattle wreaking a havoc specially in Vidarbha where huge patches of forest and village farms are forcefully used by the Kathiyawadi tribesmen for grazing their cattle.
 
However, the Government decision has hardly had any impact or pressure on Kathiyawadis because of support from some politically influential persons and some of the Forest Department staffers. When ‘The Hitavada’ tried to investigate to find out the reasons and loopholes that have contributed to increase in illegal grazing in Vidarbha region by interacting with affected villagers and farmers, it found that most of them were ready to share details on the condition of anonymity. They preferred anonymous admission of the problem because they felt threatened by the Kathiyawadi tribesmen and involvement of influential people. Ramlal (name changed) is one such farmer from Katlabodi village, where recently a tiger mauled a man to death. The 42-year-old farmer and his family have been living in Katlabodi village for decades. His grandfather and father were also the natives of this same village. The family has been living in the lap of Nature. It has been grazing its cattle in the forest area for decades for which it has got requisite permission. “Though the Government has banned cattle grazing in protected areas in any Reserve Forest in the State, it has allowed cattle grazing for local people and farmers in corridors. We have that permission. But, the Kathiyawadi tribesmen come every year here to graze their cattle without any permission. It has been going on for at least fifteen years,” Ramlal rued.
 
According to Rajesh (name changed), another farmer from Katlabodi, “The issue is known to the Forest Department and public representatives of this area. The villagers of Kalmeshwar area have been struggling with this for last many years. We have no grassland left to feed our cattle. These Kathiyawadi cows and sheeps feed on all the grass in the corridor and also enter our agriculture lands.” “They usually come in these areas with a group of 20-25 people and around 5,000 sheeps and 1,000-2,000 cows. They venture deep into the forest as well as private farmlands,” Rajesh added. In August earlier this year, a group of Kathiyawadi tribesmen came into forest fringes in Kalmeshwar and Kondhali ranges and their cows and sheeps grazed in the forest and farmlands. The villagers confronted the grazers for letting their animals inside the forest for grazing. They also detained sheep in Katlabodi village. When the villagers detained Kathiyawadi tribesmen’s sheeps, the shepherds agreed to remove their settlements from the forest area within a couple of days. “This happened because around 60-70 villagers confronted them. Otherwise, they normally threaten us or offer money,” said a villager.
 
Rajesh claimed that it was a bare truth that these shepherds had managed the Range Forest Officers (RFOs) and Forest Guards with money and they wanted to do same thing with the local villagers.. “But, for the sake of some lumpsum money, we cannot allow them to finish the fodder for our cattle,” said a visibly irritated Rajesh. Narendra Chandewar, Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF), took action against Kathiyawadi tribesmen a couple of times for illegal grazing when he was posted in Umred-Paoni-Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary. He told ‘The Hitavada’ that illegal grazing was a ‘big challenge’ before the Forest Department. The department is working hard to curb this menace. “When I was in Umred, our team seized many sheeps and cows and imposed fine on these tribesmen for illegal grazing in my jurisdiction,” he recalled. Chandewar seized a number of livestock in Kuhi taluka a couple of years ago and imposed a penalty. He warned the tribesmen of stern legal action if they returned to Kuhi taluka. He also took action against another group of Kathiyawadi tribesmen in Champa range of Umred. Another forest officer, on condition of anonymity, did not deny the possibility of ‘some corruption’ at lower level in the department. Else, he said, how could these tribesmen from outside Maharashtra be encouraged to stay in Vidarbha for illegal grazing of their cattle. He also suspected that the tribesmen had ‘political support’ helping them when the Forest Deparrtment team took action against them. “The senior forest officers should be vigilant and take strict action against their subordinates who indulge in such corruption,” he said.
 
 
 
Will act against illegalities: HoFF
Shailesh Tembhurnikar, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) and Head of Forest Force (HoFF), Government of Maharashtra, claimed that the Forest Department was seriously working to curb illegal grazing in the State and that he would initiate inquiry if any illegality was taking place in the department at any level. “The grazing rules are already defined in the working plan of the State Government. The rules allow grazing of local cow, buffalo, and calves in forest corridors upto the limits prescribed in the working plan. But, grazing by Kathiyawadi cows and sheeps from outside is completely illegal in Maharashtra,” Tembhurnikar stressed. Asked about allegations of RFOs and Forest Guards indulging in corruption for allowing Kathiyawadi tribesmen to continue with the menace of illegal grazing, the HoFF said, “If it is really happening, then it is a matter of concern for the department. I will ask my officers to conduct an inquiry into the matter. I will ask them to take action against illegal grazing going on in the region.”