Rehabilitation of Laika and Dodhia Villagers in Tinsukia Gaining Momentum, says DFO
OUR CORRESPONDENT
TINSUKIA: The process to relocate the inhabitants of Dodhia and Laika Forest villages from inside the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park has gathered momentum, informed DFO Wildlife Tinsukia Division Rajendra Singh Bharti in a communiqué on Sunday.
Mentionably, in the wake of relentless protests by the forest villagers of Dodhia and Laika for relocation outside the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, it was decided in a meeting convened by the Chief Minister of Assam recently that while the Forest villagers of Dodhia would be relocated and rehabilitated in Lakhimpur District, the Forest villagers of Laika would be relocated and rehabilitated in Tinsukia District in two/three groups in degraded Reserve Forest of Digboi and Lakhimpur Forest Divisions.
He added that the development has taken place after a committee under the chairmanship of Minister for Environment and Forest, Assam was formed to smoothen out the problems coming in way of relocation and rehabilitation of two Forest villages and the modalities have been worked out.
The Committee was directed to find a logical and permanent solution within a month. Accordingly, the territorial DFOs concerned did surveys in the respective areas and a formal proposal was moved by the Assam Forest Department on January 8, 2021 to seek the approval of Government of Assam, stated the DFO.
He further stated that the Government of Assam has shown commitment to proactively pursue the matter with Central Government to get necessary clearance under Forest Conservation Act-1980.
The detailed proposal for relocation of Dohia and Laika would also contain the proposal to create basic common facilities for forest villagers by merging various on-going schemes/programs of State and Central Government such as PMAYG, Rural Electrification scheme, SWAJAL scheme, UijwalaYojanaetc, added the communiqué.