Two forest villages Laika, Dodhia and their plight

OUR CORRESPONDENT

TINSUKIA: Due to extreme apathy of successive State governments coined with anthropogenic factors, condition of pristine Dibru-Saikhowa National Park covering 340 sq km in Siang-Brahmaputra basin spreading over Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts deteriorated ever since Dibru-Saikhowa Wildlife Sanctuary was upgraded to the status of National Park in 1999 without relocating two forest villages- Laika and Dodhia which occupied 238 ha and 135 ha respectively in the core area when notification for Wildlife Sanctuary was made in 1986. Uncertainties always loomed large over permanent rehabilitation of forest villagers even as the TMPKs (TakamMisingPorenKebang) persistent pleas for suitable relocation during past three decades remained non-complacent. They cannot be made solely responsible for present crisis in DSNP.

On rehabilitation issue, Minturaaj Morang, vice president TMPK central committee and chief convenorLaika-Dodhia Rehabilitation Demand Committee told this correspondent that they had sacrificed enough and compromised on several relocation sites and categorically said, "We must have allotment order in hand before January 27 and the land allotted to us must be free from any encroachment or in-situ cultivation by others."

He was referring to the present status of Paharpur where illegal tea garden exists to which Government proposed to relocate 379 families and ignored the resistance put up by some ethnic communities. He further affirmed and advocated that the beneficiary should not enjoy double benefit and said, "I have already submitted a list of beneficiaries to the Deputy Commissioner Tinsukia and ready to divulge more names who grabbed the land unauthorised, provided the Government fulfils our demand before January 27. Morang also assured that he would assist administration in survey and assessment works once relocation issue was settled with acceptable solutions.

After 1950 earthquake, the Government of Assam established Laika forest village in 1950 and Dodhia forest village in 1957 in the then Dibru Reserve Forest as two designated forest villages that remained in the core area. In conservation and tourism perspectives, the Park was always neglected, the plight of two forest villagers were never heard by any Government seriously, the relocation issue figured only in the agenda and proceedings. No Forest Minister including PradyutBordoloi ever visited the Park even posting of Forest Officials was considered as punitive.

Also Read: Lazaiholla camp inmates stage protest, demand rehabilitation

Also Watch: PM Modi in Assam: Rapid Development of NE, Assam Imperative for Self-Reliant India