Orissas Satkosia Gorge (Tikarpada) Sanctuary spread over 800 kilometres of area overlapping Angul, Cuttack, Nayagarh and Boudh Districts is described by many as nature lovers paradise.
By Sarada Lahangir
Angul (Orissa), Aug.23 : Orissa's Satkosia Gorge (Tikarpada) Sanctuary spread over 800 kilometres of area overlapping Angul, Cuttack, Nayagarh and Boudh Districts is described by many as nature lovers' paradise.
A prominent sight at the sanctuary is the mighty gorge where the River Mahanadi floats s with amazing ferocity through 22 kilometres of emerald forests, which seem to change their hues with every bend of the River's meanderings.
However, a large number of Gond tribals and people belonging to the Dhibara community residing in the vicinity of the sanctuary present a pathetic picture.
These people complain that they are compelled to lead a difficult life nowadays, following strict regulations forbidding them to collect wood for their kitchen.
These tribals solely depend on fishing in River Mahanadi inside the sanctuary and selling firewood collected from here.
After prohibitions, these people are dependent only on fishing and the marginal farm holdings for their survival. But most of the times their source-farming or fish-are damaged by elephants or washed away by floods.
There are about a score of villages in and around the Satkosia sanctuary.
Braja Bandhu, one of the villagers, said: "We have no housing scheme, no pension or anything. We are dependent on the wage labour and somehow arranging our livelihood. Sometimes, we have to even depend on the minor forest products like Sal seeds which only sell at rupees three per kilogram."
These tribals lament that they lack basic amenities and deprived of health services. The complain that benefit of the Government projects like the National Rural Job Guarantee Scheme has never reached them objectively.
Deepak Kumar Bhoi, another villager, said: "We have very little agricultural land which is affected by flood most of the time. We do no have medical facilities for us. The civil hospital at Angul is far away from here."
Gurubahi Bhoi, another villager, said: "Our houses have collapsed and we have not yet been provided with the Indira Awaas scheme. The authorities want us to leave the place, but how can we leave this place without proper settlement."
However, the Divisional Forest Officer said that all possible care was being taken of the tribal belt to ensure better means of sustenance through Khadi Village Industries Commission (KVIC).
Susanta Nanda, Divisional Forest Officer of Angul Range, said: "To take care of these villagers, we have a bio-diversity management plan in place to be funded by the KVIC. We have various eco-development committees under our FDA under which the livelihood of these people has been taken care of along with the conservation need of the Sanctuary."
Nanda said: "We have recently started a concept of community-based eco-tourism at Tikarpada wherein registered society has been formed. It has 63 members taking care of our eco-tourists spots, where we have tent-camping facilities in place, which accommodates around 20 tourists along with boating facility and elephant rides."
"The community asks handsome money and around 35 per cent is kept for the development of society and rest the community takes it," Nanda added.
Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary is one of the best eco-tourist spots in the country where one can enjoy a hand at angling, boating and trekking. It has a rare mix of forests that are moist deciduous, dry deciduous and moist peninsular.
Animals like tiger, leopard, elephant, Gaur, Sambar, spotted deer, mouse deer, Nilgai, Choushingha, sloth bear, wild dog etc., are at 'home' in Satkosia range. Migratory birds too fancy to nestle here.
Tikarpada, which lies within this sanctuary, is famous as one of the ideal protected breeding places for Gharials and crocodiles.
ANI