Activists challenge legality of forest dwellers' relocation

Wildlife activists are questioning the legality of relocating forest dwellers in the Kali Tiger Reserve and nearby Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary. They filed a complaint with the Forest Minister, alleging violations of national conservation guidelines. The controversy began after Forest Minister Eshwar B. Khandre answered a question in the Legislative Council. He reported that from 2020 to 2025, 498 families were relocated from Kali Tiger Reserve, with about half coming from buffer areas. Activist B. Reshma pointed out that this goes against the National Tiger Conservation Authority's guidelines, which state that only forest-dwelling tribes from critical areas should be relocated. Reshma highlighted that many relocated families came from villages where they had encroached on forest land. District meeting minutes show that officials identified forest encroachment among these families. In a separate response, Khandre previously stated that villages occupied illegally, like Kurimande and Sambhapura, would not receive alternative land. The activists are concerned that the relocation process did not follow the required steps outlined in the Forest Rights Act, which should occur before relocating families. They argue that some families awaiting their rights were already moved. Activists are calling for a thorough investigation into the relocation. They find it troubling that funds for rehabilitation were released without verifying if the beneficiaries were legitimate forest dwellers or encroachers. Concerns have also been raised about the compliance with the Forest Rights Act in this process.