Take MHA approval for tribal relocation, Environment Ministry tells Jharkhand

The Tribune has learnt that although the Environment Ministry has in principle cleared the Jharkhand Government’s proposal to divert 971 acres of forest land to rehabilitate 780 tribal families residing in the core zone of Palamu Tiger Reserve, it has also asked the state government to obtain a separate approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

Officials in the Ministry said, “The MHA’s approval is a must as relocation of tribals at the present juncture could impede security operations against Naxals in the tiger reserve.”

In November last year, the Home Ministry had informed the Environment Ministry that they had set a national goal of eliminating Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) and any displacement of tribals from forests should be postponed for the next three years.

“The campaign to eliminate LWE is currently in a crucial phase. Any displacement related measures could adversely impact security operations. In view of stability, peace-building and continuity of security operations in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, it is requested that the displacement of affected tribal communities be postponed for the next three years,” read minutes of a meeting of the Environment Ministry, accessed by The Tribune.

Palamu is one of the rare cases where the proposal, despite being cleared by the Environment Ministry, is being held up for a nod from the Home Ministry.

The state wants the permission as relocation of villagers from the reserve will enable it to build the Mandal Dam project, which was initiated in 1970 but remains incomplete.

“The dam will serve as a water lifeline for the wildlife of Palamu Tiger Reserve, which faces serious water scarcity, being a drought-prone area. Owing to the construction of the dam, over 1,000 hectares of the tiger reserve will be submerged, making it imperative to relocate the villagers,” state officials say.

Under the environmental rules, the Centre allows villagers the option to relocate from core zones of the tiger reserves so that an inviolate space could be created for tigers and these zones are free from human interference. Each family also gets Rs 15 lakh as compensation to relocate from the core tiger zone.