With no response from the Centre on the Rajasthan government's proposal on relocating villages located within the core area of the Sariska Tiger Project (STP), the plan appears to have been dumped.
"Not a single paisa has come from the Centre; we just don't know how to go ahead with the plan," said Rajasthan's forests and environment minister Laxmi Narain Dave.
The state government had asked for Rs 4.28 crore for the implementation of the first phase of the project involving the relocation of 129 families of two villages, Bagani and Kankwari. In all, 11 out of the total of 28 villages located within the park's core area were to have been re-located in a phased manner over the next three years under a centrally funded scheme at a cost ranging between Rs.15 to 20 crore.
"After having agreed to fund the project in principle, the Centre's silence on the matter is intriguing", said officials.
Following reports of missing tigers at Sariska last year, the relocation plan had been formulated by the state government, based on the recommendations of the Sunita Narain-headed Central task force on tigers. The idea was to de-reserve 222 hectares of forestland in Barod Roond village near Behror in Alwar to settle Sariska villagers.
{{/usCountry}}Following reports of missing tigers at Sariska last year, the relocation plan had been formulated by the state government, based on the recommendations of the Sunita Narain-headed Central task force on tigers. The idea was to de-reserve 222 hectares of forestland in Barod Roond village near Behror in Alwar to settle Sariska villagers.
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