Protected Area Network in Orissa - Vasundhara

Department and scarce of wage labour in the locality, about 32 persons have migratedtemporarily to Gujurat and Delhi in search of employment.Other problems faced by the local residents:The crocodile conservation programme has created a panic among the local people,particularly in the rainy seasons when the crocodiles cross over to the water-loggedcultivated lands from the rivers & creeks and the farmers are in great trouble to dotheir agricultural work. They are even unable to protect their crops from the wildboars simply because access to the fields is difficult due to the presence of crocodiles.There has been a number of human causalities due to crocodile attack The loss oflivestock is much more. Besides, many people have been injured by crocodile attack.However, in these cases people do not get compensation properly which again is nota significant amount.Inter-departmental conflict – implications on bio-diversity:Since long(1969-70), 10 forest blocks inside the sanctuary are proposed to be declaredas Reserve Forests but the final declaration is pending due to lack of coordination ofthe Revenue Department or district administration which is responsible for enquiryinto forest settlement cases.The next problem was created by the Irrigation Department. To check tidalinundation in agricultural lands, this department facilitated the construction of largeembankments as a result of which many virgin mangrove patches were destroyed.Moreover, it has been noticed that reports of crocodile attacks are more in areas wherecreeks have been blocked for irrigation.Then came the Fisheries Department, which facilitated the extensive commercialfishing in the creeks as well as the sea by promoting advanced mechanised systemslike trawlers. Further, its non-recognition of gill-net boats in the category ofmechanised boats helped the gill-net boats evade the imposition on mechanised boatsto use TEDs, thereby causing heavy mortality of the turtles.44