World · India Bureau
Odisha panel to probe tiger habitat village relocation row
Odisha has constituted an inquiry committee following directions from the state human rights body to examine the relocation of villages from tiger conservation areas. The move comes after residents alleged the displacement process lacked genuine consent.
LSN India ·
The Odisha government has established a committee to investigate the relocation of villagers from tiger habitat zones, acting on a directive from the Odisha Human Rights Commission. The panel will examine concerns raised by affected residents regarding the process and implementation of the resettlement scheme.
Villagers displaced from tiger reserve areas have contested the relocation process, alleging that the exercise was carried out without their meaningful consent. Residents claimed that the authorities manufactured approval for the displacement rather than securing voluntary agreement from the community.
The human rights commission's intervention follows complaints from affected villages. The inquiry committee is expected to assess whether proper procedures were followed, including consultation with residents and documentation of consent during the relocation exercise.
Odisha is home to several tiger reserves and has periodically undertaken relocation programmes to reduce human-wildlife conflict and expand habitat for tiger conservation. The latest committee formation underscores the tension between wildlife protection objectives and the rights of forest-dependent communities facing displacement.
The committee's findings are expected to provide clarity on the relocation process and may inform future conservation initiatives in the state, particularly regarding the balance between environmental protection and community welfare.