The proposal to declare the Mahdei wild life sanctuary as atiger reserve, may have excited wild life activists but the idea is certain torob local humans of a roof over their heads
For the villagers in Sattari, the move is shocking sincetheir land comes under the area marked for the wildlife sanctuary.
Though the State government, it is learnt will besympathetic to local villagers and not implement the Centre’s proposal, theresidents affected by the wildlife sanctuary are taking no chances and aregearing up to oppose the move.
Last week two sarpanchas have publicly opposed the proposalfor a wildlife sanctuary in Mhadei. Datta Gawas from village panchayat Mauxiand Jivbarao Rane from village panchayat Keri have expressed strongreservations.
“Our poor people mainly depend on the plantations of cashew,areca nut, coconut etc. But if this area comes under the wildlife sanctuarythey won’t be able to carry on with their plantations ” said Datta Gawas,Sarpanch Mauxi village panchayat.
Jivabarao Rane said: “We will not tolerate this at anycost.”
27 remote areas of ten village panchayats that come underthe Mhadei wildlife sanctuary spread across 208 sq kms.
A committee led by former Forest Secretary Rajiv Yaduvanshiin 2003 was planning to reduce the buffer zone distance from 10 kms to nil, inorder to safeguard locals business interests and houses which come under thearea.
According to Range Forest Officer, Mhadei wildlifesanctuary, Paresh Porob government has not taken any decision over the wildlifesanctuary so far.
