Villagers demand space for grazing cattle around Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary

 

 

Though the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department is preparing Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary for cheetahs in full swing, local villagers are aggrieved over area coverage and fencing. To oppose the construction in area local villagers filed various complaints and allegedly pelted stone on BJP’s Jan Ashirwad Yatra on September 5. They said that they have no issue with Cheetah Project while they want space for cattle grazing. The sanctuary is spread over 369 sq km while enclosure is being prepared around 67 sq km of area. Bone of contention between forest team and local villagers comes from Chenpuria village (earlier known as Ravli kudi village) situated on other side of area where enclosure is being prepared. The village was earlier divided into three villages Chenpuria, Ravali Kudi and Pathar. District administration merge the three villages into one. Total population of this village is 2,500 and main occupation of these villagers is animal husbandry. They are having around 27,000 cattle and every day they sell five to six thousand litre of milk. Each family has around 100 cattle and most of them are cow. They have also buffalo and goat but cows are in higher number.

 

Villagers take their cattle for grazing in the jungle where cheetahs are set to introduce. For safety of cheetah, on one side of road forest team has constructed stone wall and fencing due to which villagers are unable to take their cattle for grazing in jungle. They opposed the decision of fencing and stone various time but forest team could not help them out. Aggrieved over the issue, villagers pelted stone on BJP’s Jan Ashirwad Yatra held on September 5. Police had registered case against 150 people in this regards. A local villager Prahlad Gurjar says, “They have fenced on one side of the road. If we will get area on other side of road, our cattle will graze and to survive. We are ready to support the Cheetah Project of Government but the construction and development work is affecting our livelihood. We want only green space for cattle grazing.”

 

He further informed that people of this village totally dependent of animal husbandry as there is no other option of farming, business etc. Prahlad Patel said, their fore fathers were living in the same area and they were also involved in animal husbandry. He said that one side of road is covered with fencing and the other side is also being covered. He said that if both sides of road will be covered, then cattle will have no space. Another villager Savara Gurjar said, “We have no issue with Cheetah Project as we are shepherd. We are demanding for a space for our cattle but forest team has installed net near the village and constructed stone wall. Our village is surrounded with construction work. Our cattle have no space to graze the grass. We are living in the area for 50 years.” He further added that villagers have not pelted stone in Jan Ashirwad Yatra while incident was placed after few kilo meter away from the village.