Relocation, a distant dream for these villagers
KHANAPUR: The villagers of three hamlets- Gavali, Kongala and Pastoli under Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary limits, are waiting for the monsoon with dread. Soon the rains will be making it impossible for the villagers to cross Bandura river to reach Khanapur to access the market or medical aid during emergencies as, like every year, the residents of these villages were not able to collect enough funds to construct a temporary bridge over the river.
Speaking to TNIE, Jayant Gavkar, a resident of Gavali said, “The villagers of all three hamlets have to cross two rivers- Mahadayi and Bandura to reach the town. A couple of years ago, social worker and JD(S) leader Nasir Bagwan had constructed a bridge over the Mahadayi river by spending his own money. Now crossing Bandura river during monsoon is the only concern for us,” he said.
According to wildlife activists, relocation and rehabilitation of villagers living in Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary is the only solution to their problems, as the people there are finding it extremely difficulty to live in such harsh conditions.
Bhimgad is one of the areas in the state which receives very high rainfall during monsoon. During this time, life becomes difficult for the people here as the villages have mostly dirt roads and the bridges become inaccessible. If someone falls ill, the villagers need to carry them on foot for at least 10 kms to reach Hemmadaga or Nersa while crossing dangerous routes with the fear of wild animals hanging over them.
From Nersa’s main road, Gavali is about 14 kms away, Kongala is 9 kms and Pastoli is 8 kms away. Few villagers of the mentioned hamlets have two-wheelers but riding them on slippery mud roads is dangerous.
Gavkar said for now, the villagers are able to ride their bikes or walk to reach the town due to less rains. But as the rains get wilder, reaching the town will become more and more difficult for us.
Since the above scenario is common across all protected areas in the state, the state government in its 2015-16 budget had announced its plans to form relocation units at four places in the state including Belagavi which will help in carrying out relocation work more effectively for the villagers.