Eviction of Forest Dwelling Scheduled Tribes in Tripura
By:N.C Debbarma, Category: General, Posted on:2010-06-09 11:24:47

The Forest Areas of Tripura accounted for 6293 sq. km. out of the total geographical area of the state comprising of 10,492 sq. km. Tripura Govt. through gazette notification vide no F.B-296/Land/For-2001/Part-I/31684-783, dated 4th march 2004 have further extended additional forest areas to the tune of 159.398 hectars. In other words the state having around 60% forest areas of the total geographical areas of the state.

The whole forest areas as a whole are inhabitants of indigenous tribal people,who accounted for 31% of the total population of the state.

Over the last few decades, the tribal people having evicted/displaced from their traditionally occupied Forest land interms of setting up wild life sanctuaries , for construction of hydel Projects, Police and Paramilitary forces head quarters and so on.

At present 4(four) wild life sanctuaries have already been set up in Tripura as follows:-
Name of the Sanctuary Area in Km2
1. Sepahijala wild life sanctuary 18.5339
2. Gumti wild life sanctuary 389.540
3. Trishna Wild life Sanctuary 194.708
4. Roa Wild life Sanctuary 0.8585
  --------

Total

 603.6404

In brief, Tripura State have 10% of the forest areas covered under wild life sanctuaries.

The Tripura State Govt. have recently initiated setting up another 3(three) Wild life sanctuaries in the state. According to the decision taken in the recently held meeting of the State Wild Life Council , chaired by the Honble Chief Minister. The newly Proposed Wild life sanctuaries are to be set up in Atharamura Range(In khowai sub-division) and in Ghandhari(Amarpur Sub-division) exclusively for wild elephants habitation.

Likewise in Baramura Hill range(Sadar Sub Division), the sanctuary of wild birds is to be set up and the third one being in Belonia sub division of South Tripura District of Bhairab nagar ,for Bison.

The Newly proposed areas of Wild Life Sanctuaries are the inhabited areas of tribal people for generations together. They are the poorest people living their livelihood on Jhum cultivation(Shifting cultivation) and through daily collection of minor forests produces. Although they are in occupation of Forest land, they have no Patta or land records in any form as the supporting documents , although they are occupying the forest land for generations together.

The Tripura State had witnessed the sorrows, sufferings of the indigenous tribal people in the last few decades as they have been Involuntarily displaced from their ancestral homestead and cultivable land while the project Dumbur Hydel Project was taken up in Amarpur Sub-Division in the late sixties of the past century much to peoples disappointment against the wishes of the people. Like-wise, Construction of Air-Strips in Teliamura(Rangkhal Para) and Belonia, Setting up of CRPF, BSF, TSR Battalion Head Quarters, NH-44, railway track from churaibari to Agartala are the glaring instances of the past of colossus displacement of indigenous Tribal people.

There are various enactment and policies formulated by the Union Govt. in order to protect and safe guard of the indigenous peoples right on land interaliato remove Historical injustice on them.

But Alas! Those regulatory Protective regime are silent, so far eviction/displacement of the indigenous people of Tripura is concerned.


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