Rajasthan
,
Mukundra
,
Kota
Published :
Dec 2017
|
Updated :
Villagers in Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve Refuse to Relocate, Seek Higher Compensation
Reported by
Ashish Gaur
Legal Review by
Anmol Gupta
Edited by
Anupa Kujur
Households affected
4000
People affected
2013
Year started
0
Land area affected
Households affected
4000
People Affected
2013
Year started
0
Land area affected
Key Insights
Sector
Conservation and Forestry
Reason/Cause of conflict
Protected Areas
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Rural
Ended
Sector
Conservation and Forestry
Reason/Cause of conflict
Protected Areas
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Rural
Ended
1
Summary

Residents of 12 villages within the periphery of the Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve are refusing to relocate from their villages unless they are given adequate compensation. The Forest Department is planning to reintroduce tigers into the Reserve, which had previously lost all its tigers. In June 2017, the villagers had requested the Government for a revised compensation package as they are unhappy with the current one which conforms to the norms laid down by the National Tiger Conservation Authority. An article dated 4 March, 2018, states that the Centre has approved 100 hectares of land near Kota to be the area to which the villagers will be rehabilitated. However, the compensation package remains unchanged and the villagers are refusing to shift out of the reserve. Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve (MHTR) is the third tiger reserve of Rajasthan after Sariska and Ranthambore. MHTR was notified as a Tiger Reserve in 2013 by the State Government. Spread over 759.99 square kilometers, comprising a core area of 417.17 square km and a buffer area of around 342.82 square km. Of the total 14 villages that come within the periphery of the MHTR, only two, Lakshmipura and Kharli Baori, have been rehabilitated. Based on the norms set by National Tiger Conservation Authority's (NTCA), the Forest Department has promised to pay Rs 10 lakh and also assured to provide compensation for land as per Government rates. The villagers, however, are unhappy with this and have been demanding a better compensation package. As per a report dated December 6, 2017, District Collector of Kota, Rohit Gupta, had said that a revised compensation package had been sent to the State Government for approval. Deputy Conservator of Forests, MHTR, SR Yadav, confirmed that the revised package had been sent to the Union Government through the State Government. He further added that "relocation of villagers was priority but it has to be voluntary". However, the compensation package remains unchanged and there are no updates on the revised package that was requested.

2
Fact Sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Demand for more compensation than promised

Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Region Classification

Rural

Type of Land

Private

What was the action taken by the police?

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)

Status of Project

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

Total investment involved (in Crores):

73

Type of investment:

Investment Expected

Year of Estimation

Page Number In Investment Document:

Has the Conflict Ended?

No

When did it end?

Why did the conflict end?

4
Additional Information

Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:

Forest Department, Government of Rajasthan

PSUs Involved in the Conflict:

Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?

No

Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached

Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:

Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?

Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:

5
Information on the use of criminal law

What was the action taken by the police?

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Legal Supporting Documents

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Author
Reported by
Ashish Gaur
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Fact sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Demand for more compensation than promised

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Status of Project

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

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