The Odisha Human Rights Commission has instructed the state government to form a high-level inquiry committee within four weeks to investigate the faulty village relocation process in the Satkosia Tiger Reserve in Angul district. The Commission expressed concerns over procedural lapses and directed the committee to identify responsible officers and recommend appropriate actions. This directive follows complaints from residents of various villages alleging violations of their human rights during the relocation process.
The Commission highlighted that relocation from critical tiger habitats must adhere to legal requirements, including habitat assessment, settlement of forest rights under the Forest Rights Act, and consent from Gram Sabha. It noted instances where relocations were carried out without recognizing individual and community forest rights, and where Gram Sabha meetings were not conducted properly. The Commission also found discrepancies in enumeration lists and improper valuation of properties during compensation disbursement, causing hardships to displaced families.
Emphasizing the importance of legal safeguards and human dignity in conservation efforts, the Commission stated that prescribed procedures by the NTCA and state government benefits were not effectively implemented. It recommended the formation of a committee comprising officials from relevant departments and an independent wildlife law expert. The Chief Secretary has been tasked with appointing the committee head and submitting a compliance report within six weeks.
