Protected Area Network in Orissa - Vasundhara

discussion, he cited one example of a village (Salar) where each family earnedmore than 1000 rupees in 1999 KL year. He further added that, in the year 2000,they procured a total of 3605850 Kerries (each kerry consists of 21 leaves) ofkendu leaves from the 11 phadis and created more than 20000 mandays within aperiod 25 days. After closing down of bamboo operation in 1996, the dependencyon KL increased substantially. Unfortunately, in the year 2000 state governmentdecided not to procure kendu leaves from any Sanctuary or National Parks(Order No. F (L) 12/2000, 12732 F&E, dated 19th August 2000) which severelyaffected the live & livelihood of local people.Following the Supreme court order dated 14.2.2000, in WP No. 202/95, in theyear 2001 the wildlife authorities banned collection of all other forest productsincluding fuelwood, mushroom, edible tubers, creepers and leaves from thesanctuary area which use to provide substantial income to the poor people.According to the ACF of Angul Wildlife Division, the MoEF issued an order No.11-9/98-FC dated on 4.5.2001 which stated “…… in the order dt. 14.2.2000, in WPNo. 202/95, the Hon’ble Supreme Court has restrained all the states from ordering eventhe removal of dead, diseased, dying or wind-fallen trees and grasses etc. from anyNational Park and Game Sanctuary. How could we violate the order of Hon’ble SupremeCourt he asked? Even though we know that Satkosia forests provide livelihood as well asfood security to thousands of poor families.” Further he said that last year MoEF hadonce again issued another order (No. 2-1/2003-FC) which says that rights &concessions cannot be enjoyed in the Protected Areas (PAs) in view of the ordersof the Supreme Court dated 14.2.2000.“In one stroke the inhabitants lost their source of income and their customary rightswhich they used to enjoy since long also got squeezed. Now hundreds of Pana families(the traditional bamboo weavers), those used to earn a substantial income from selling ofbamboo baskets, have lost their source of income. Sal Leaf, which used to provideemployment to thousands of women, was also banned in 2001. How these people will89