Four years on, 3K residents in Raj’s tiger reserve await relocation

Kota: Around four years after the Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve (RVTR) in Bundi was notified, nearly 3,000 residents of eight villages located inside its core area continue to live under the threat of wildlife attacks as the relocation process is still underway. RVTR was declared the country’s 52nd and Rajasthan’s 4th tiger reserve in May 2022; the forest department initiated voluntary relocation of the villages situated within its core area of over 481.90 sq km. The reserve is spread over a total area of 1501.89 sq km, including the core and buffer zone.

In the first phase of relocation, three villages — Gulkhedi, Bherupura Antri and Bheemganj — located within the buffer zone were notified for relocation. According to the reserve officials, nearly 70 per cent of families in Gulkhedi have vacated their dwellings, with 88 structures demolished. Out of 215 identified families in the village, 213 have selected their compensation options and begun displacement work; the remaining two are still to decide their package.

In Bherupura, around 150 families out of 264 submitted files have received their first instalment of Rs 3 lakh; second-instalment payouts remain pending due to state budget allocations. In Bhara Dhundhla, about 60 family files are undergoing document verification. Relocation for Keshavpura, Bhimganj, Haripura, and Javora ki Jhopriya is slated for subsequent phases.

The department is offering three voluntary compensation models – Cash Package: Rs 15 lakh per eligible unit, paid in instalments, Land Package: Alternative agricultural land (plus Rs 3.75 lakh cash and up to 1.25 bighas additional land allowance) for major landholders and DLC Package (Calculated at 2.5 to 3 times the District Level Committee rates depending on distance) for non-resident landholders.

Speaking to PTI, deputy conservator of forests (DCF), RVTR, Arunkumar D said there are currently eight revenue villages located inside the critical core zone of the tiger reserve. The first instalment of the compensation package had been distributed to these families by the department. Funds for subsequent payouts of the second and third instalments are awaited, he added.