Karnataka Village Inside Tiger Reserve Lacks Basic Amenities and Roads

About 30 families living in Paradeshappana Mutt village inside the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary in Chikkamagaluru taluk survive without roads, public transport, schools, hospitals, or electricity from power companies. Most residents belong to the Adi Karnataka Scheduled Caste. Because there are no local schools, families send their children to stay with distant relatives or in hostels to study. Getting basic supplies like a bag of salt requires a trip on foot or by a personal two-wheeler to Bogase, the nearest village. Solar panels donated by private companies have only recently allowed homes to have light at night.

Hardships And Rehabilitation

Residents like an elderly resident named Rudraiah state their families have lived on the land for generations before the area became a wildlife sanctuary. The sanctuary, which is part of Project Tiger, was notified in 1998 and includes 12 villages marked for rehabilitation. Forest Department records list the current residents as forest dwellers. The management plan shows that 418 families have been moved to centers at M.C. Halli in Tarikere taluk and Kelagur in Chikkamagaluru taluk, but 20 families at Paradeshappana Mutt and 46 families in three other villages still await rehabilitation. Some villagers note that not every family made it onto the original compensation list, and a senior Forest Department official stated that a few people have approached the courts to ask for extra compensation. A forest official explained that laws prevent the department from building roads or providing electricity inside the tiger reserve, and suggested that environmentalists or citizen forums might help persuade the remaining families to move or seek fresh compensation packages from the government. Chikkamagaluru Deputy Commissioner Bhanwar Singh Meena stated that he plans to hold a meeting with Forest Department officials soon to examine possible solutions.

Context

India has many protected wildlife reserves and tiger sanctuaries where human settlements exist from the period before strict conservation laws were enacted. Balancing the rights and basic needs of forest-dwelling communities with the legal protections required for wildlife habitats remains a complex challenge for local administrations.