BHUBANESWAR: Even as the State Government looks to strengthen wildlife habitats by chalking out a comprehensive management plan, Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary, an important corridor for both tigers and elephants, is reeling under anthropogenic pressure.
Human settlements inside the sanctuary and on its fringes are so devoid of basic amenities and the dwellers so impoverished that they have turned to the sanctuary, a proposed tiger corridor, for their sustenance.
The 170 sq km sanctuary, one of the oldest and richest protected areas (PA) of the State, is an important corridor connecting northern part of Satkosia Tiger Reserve and Mahandi whereas to its south, it links Phulbani, Boudh to Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary in Nuapada. Its significance can be gauged from the fact that it is a proposed tiger corridor and continues to be a corridor for elephants.
But increased dependence on forests has added to the pressure. Demography of the region says it all. There are 22 human settlements inside Baisipalli whereas the sanctuary is abutted by 30 to 40 villages. About 80 per cent of population in these villages live below poverty line and for livelihood, they depend on the sanctuary - both for fuel and other forest resources.
There is barely any road connectivity in the 50-odd villages and electricity is non-existent. For the last four to five years, villagers have been up in arms demanding electricity and have resorted to agitation too.
With poverty and lack of basic amenities haunting the villages, locals take to poaching. In last one year, Mahanadi Wildlife Division officials have nabbed over 70 poachers with country-made guns. At least 30 of them were locals. “Habitat loss and prey base depletion is a major outcome of over-dependence on Baisipalli. It leads to shrinkage of the tiger habitat,” said a wildlife expert.
However, Mahanadi Wildlife Division and Nayagarh district administration have stepped forward to plug the development gaps. Since road communication has been a major demand, the two agencies have expedited repair of old and construction of new roads. At least Rs 23 lakh has been sanctioned by both Wildlife Wing and Nayagarh district administration for road works.
“In the last four months, we had a series of meetings with villagers and road was a major demand. This year, we have already spent Rs 10 lakh for Baisipalli alone. We are working in tandem with the district administration to provide basic amenities to inhabitants and dwellers,” said DFO of Mahanadi Wildlife Division Anshu Pragyan Das.
While cross-drainage structures are being built, efforts are also on for galvanised or bailey bridges wherever possible. Of the 60 km road, 30 per cent has been repaired and another 30 per cent is under process. Important locations, which get washed away during monsoon leaving villages marooned for four to five months, are being taken up on priority basis.
For the first time this year, compensation for crop damage by wild boar has been given to all villages in the entire division apart from those damaged by elephants. With support from eco development committees, water bodies are also being created while solar fencing in crop lands is being taken up. Large scale immunisation of livestock is underway too. Besides, LPG gas cylinder distribution has already been extended to 40 per cent households in two panchayats to reduce pressure off fire wood demand.
“Enforcement, incentive and awareness of local inhabitants is key to reducing pressure off Baisipalli and we are trying to do that by making them stakeholders,” Das said. To augment conservation, five new anti-poaching camps have been set up in and around vulnerable and important routes. More such camps would be set up soon.