SUCCESS STORY VOLUNTARY VILLAGE RELOCATION (MELGHAT TIGER RESERVE) Melghat Tiger Reserve has been awarded prize under best practices for Voluntary Village Relocation 2014-15 in January 2015. The Tiger Reserve is spread to an area of 2029 sq.km out of which 1500 sq.km is core area/critical Tiger Habitat. The core area consists of many villages which form an impediment for growth and spread of wildlife. These villages are mostly tribal dominated and their remoteness have kept tribals away from fruits of development. Therefore to make it a win win situation for both tribals and tigers, Voluntary Village relocation programme was carried out in Melghat Tiger Reserve. LEGAL PROVISIONS FOR VOLUNTARY VILLAGE RELOCATION Govt. of Maharashtra vide G.R. No. WLP-102000/file 118/F-1, Mumbai dated 05/03/2003 constituted a committee for relocation of villages under the chairmanship of Divisional Commissioner A committee under the chairmanship of District Collector for the purpose of relocation at district level Govt. of Maharashtra issued G.R.No.WLP-1012/FILE 122/F-1, Mumbai, Dated 03/11/2012 for relocation of families in the villages situated in National Park and Sanctuaries.
NO. NAME OF NO. OF YEAR OF LIVESTOCK LAND MADE VILLAGE FAMILIES RELOCATION AVAILABLE (HECTARES) 1 BORI 19 2001-02 273 36 2 KOHA 39 2001-02 348 60 3 KUND 34 2001-02 141 32 4 CHURNI 33 2006-07 230 83 5 VAIRAT 37 2006-07 1978 138 6 AMONA 79 2010-11 77 74 7 NAGARTAS 66 2010-11 496 69.68 8 BARUKHEDA 237 2010-11 459 66.66 9 DHARGAD 141 2011-12 427 130 10 GULLARGHAT 154 2012-13 150 119.44 11 SOMTHANA(Bk) 175 2013-14 348 55.74 12 SOMTHANA(Kh) 237 2013-14 687 116.37 13 KELPANI 272/365 (Relocation in progress) 2014-15 549 87.72 TOTAL 1523 6163 1068.61
PROCESS ADOPTED- Village should be inside the protected areas SDO (collector s office) should recommend that the village needs to be relocated (During final notification of the PA) Village resolution Consent of villagers to relocation along with Option I/II category Number of eligible families as decided by the Collector along with land holding people (men and unmarried women above the age of 18 years are considered as a separate family unit) Valuation of land and houses as per Government rates Section 11 notification under Maharashtra Project Affected Persons Act 1999 to be issued by the Commissioner, Revenue Department which sets the deadline for determination of eligibility. Villagers shortlist the land that they want to move to: If Revenue Land, Collector s office gives the sanctions straight forward. If forest land, Forest Conservation Act clearances have to be acquired. Option 1 (Cash) and Option 2 (Land for Land) If Option 1 One million INR is given per family and one million each to a son or daughter above the age of 18 years. If Option 2 (Land for Land) Government Rate + 30 % (solation) Value of agricultural land was given to land holders The remaining money (minus land) handed over to the people in three installments: 1) Rs. 1 lakh is deposited in Saving Account of a Nationalized Bank. 2) Rs. 5 lakhs as Fixed Deposit which can be withdrawn for immovable property or a constructive (vehicle, tractor, business) output is assured. Interest is ploughed back
into the Savings Account which can be withdrawn on monthly basis by the beneficiary. 3) The money left is deposited in joint account of ACF and SDO (Revenue) for house construction or purchase of immovable property. Village is declared as revenue village Collector office Project Affected Person (PAP) certificate is handed over to people Reservation for such people in Government jobs. In Melghat Tiger Reserve, 5 villages have been relocated under Option II namely Bori, Koha, Kund, Churni and Vairat. Remaining 7 villages have been relocated under Option I category namely Amona, Nagartas, Barukheda, Dhargad, Gullarghat, Somthana( Budruk) and Somthana (Khurd). The relocation of Kelpani village is in progress under Option I category. POST RELOCATION FACILITIES Internal Road Construction+ Electricity and water availability were given to relocated villages VEDCs formed in relocated villages of Dharul, Kasod, Wari, Gullarghat, Kelpani Somthana(Bk) and Somthana (Khurd) Items like LPG, Improved chullhas, agricultural implements, milch cattles, sewing machines and solar home lights were distributed in VEDC villages at subsidised rates. For Vairat and Churni villages, 18 facilities mentioned in GR issued by Govt. of Maharashtra, dated 17 July, 2000 have been provided. 7 relocated villages declared as independent Gram Panchayats Handholding of villagers for purchase of agricultural land. A third party socio economic survey of relocated villages is being conducted to assess the impact of relocation in 12 villages
AGRICULTURAL LAND ON LEASE BY VILLAGERS Sr No. Village Name No. of Beneficiaries Area of agricultural land leased (Ha.) 1 Nagartas 39 44.92 2 Barukheda 104 123.37 3 Amona 16 24.8 4 Dhargad 14 17.50 5 Gullarghat 14 25.50 6 Somthana(Bk) 33 74.00 7 Somthana(Kh) 43 79.6 TOTAL 263 389.69 ha AGRICULTURAL LAND PURCHASED BY VILLAGERS Sr. No Village Name No. of Beneficiaries Area of agricultural land purchased (Ha.) 1 Nagartas 11 12.14 2 Barukheda 123 120.05 3 Amona 07 4.85 4 Dhargad 11 14.16 5 Gullarghat 06 4.79 6 Somthana(Bk) 19 18.94 7 Somthana(Kh) 8 7.61 TOTAL 185 182.54