Protected Area Network in Orissa - Vasundhara

people. Without having access to the forest and forest produces the forest dwellersare getting increasingly dependent on wage labour for livelihood eraning.The most alarming thing is the imposition of ban on fuelwood collection. Thevillagers are restricted to pluck a piece of dried leaf and twig from the forest areaand violation of this has reportedly led to the most inhuman consequences in thehands of the FD. Sri Pulu Majhi, aged 14 of Simelpadar village was arrested by theForester red handed on 10 December 2004 while he was collecting a piece of fuelwood in the forest. After a collective request of the villagers and with a bribe of Rs.500/- he was freed.(This incidence was narrated in a meeting held in Simelpadaron 25 th December 2004).• Mining project threatening the wildlife existenceKarlapat an important habitation for the wild species like the rare black panther,leopards, elephants, Sambhar etc. The recent decision of the state government tohand over Khandualmali mountain located adjacent to the sanctuary to a privatecompany for bauxite mining is likely to put severe negative impacts on the forestecosystem alongwith wildlife therein. Even more important, the headwaters of themajor streams flowing through the sanctuary area i.e. Jakam Nala and Mulia Nadiarise from Khandualmali moundatin is proposed to be mined.Admitted rights and concessionsItems 'A' Class R.F Khesra/ Unreserves/ UDPFTimber No rights but certain concessi Timber of unreserved speciesFirewood existed.but reserved species allowedconcessional rateFollowing the ban imposed byGoO on tree felling in 1988, Firewood of all species allowedNistar paying tenants and ot of cost.villagers were restricted from feltrees and granted permissioncollect only dead wood and fa63