Threat of encroachment on Namdapha National Park
Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve in Changlang district are facing serious threat from ever increasing encroachment activities inside the park.
It is said that in the last few years many villagers have been carrying out harvest activities inside the park. Despite the efforts made by the park authorities to prevent encroachment and hunting activities, several cases of encroachment have been reported.
It is alleged that since the construction of Miao-Vijaynagar (MV) road started, people have started settling inside the Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve along the MV road. However, encroachment is not new and is said to have started years ago.
“Earlier, due to lack of road connectivity, forest officials could not regularly go inside the park. Taking advantage of this, many settlements were established. But now, due to better connectivity, there has been an improvement in vigilance by the officials,” said an official.
The increasing cases of encroachment are posing a serious threat to the park and its habitat. “We are losing a great deal of a good animal habitat due to encroachment. The park is feeling the pressure from all sides,” the official said.
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With the improvement of Miao-Vijayanagar road, officials of Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve have intensified patrolling inside the park. On Monday, a team led by Field Director Aduk Paron along with Gandhigram Wildlife Range RFO Yova Son Head and field staff carried out the eviction drive between 25 and 52 Mile areas inside the park. The team demolished and removed three illegally constructed structures around the 40-mile area. The evictions were carried out after the encroachers failed to respond to the notices given to them on February 9 to vacate the area by February 25.
“We have zero tolerance for encroachers, and I reiterate that such eviction drives will continue until the biodiversity hotspot area is freed from illegal settlers,” Paron said.
The field director reiterated that “there are eight recognized encroached villages within the park’s core/important tiger habitat, and rehabilitation negotiations will continue with only government-recognized villages.”
He sternly warned that action would be initiated as per the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 “if there is an attempt by new settlers to settle inside the park area.”
Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve is a biodiversity hotspot, and is recognized worldwide for its rich flora and fauna. Researchers and scientists from all over the world visit the park to conduct research activities in coordination with the park authorities.
Threat of encroachment on Namdapha National Park
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(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by News East India staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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