Compensation for families shifting out of forest reserves: CM
So far, eight villages have been relocated and 500 sq km area has been included in the forest reserve land, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan told media persons after the weekly cabinet meeting here.
There are total 215 villages and 9,617 families in six national parks and 41 forest reserves in the state. The villages have suffered crop loss and human casualty due to the man-animal conflict, he said.
Out of the Rs 10 lakh, Rs five lakh will be deposited in their accounts of nationalised bank and the remaining amount can be utilised for purchasing home and agriculture farm, the Chief Minister said.
With the decision, villages in Sahyadri tiger reserve, Navegaon national park and Tipeshwar sanctuary will get an opportunity for rehabilitation.
Chavan said rehabilitation will be done only where gram sabhas give approvals. "So there is no question of force," he added.
The cabinet has also decided to convert loan of Rs 344 crore given to Maharashtra Forest Development Corporation to equity.