Tiger In Human Out

With the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests approving “in principle” the status of a tiger reserve for the BRT sanctuary, the endangered cat has taken centre stage in all future plans for this uniquely diverse forest in southern Karnataka.

Many conservationists see the Ministry's move as vital for the future of the estimated 35 tigers that inhabit the sanctuary. Ironically, as recently as in September, almost all Soliga families here had received land rights under the Forest Act. But with the declaration of a tiger reserve, many of them may well have to barter their land rights for a monetary compensation of Rs.10 lakh per family or a rehabilitation package worth the same amount (this includes the cost of building new homes and infrastructure at the rehabilitation site). If they opt for the latter, they will most likely have to move to Gumballi village outside the protected area, where they will be given a house, five acres (one acre is 0.4 hectare) of gomala (degraded) land and Rs.50,000 as “incentive”, according to a forest official who did not want to be named.

In supreme irony, functioning with complete impunity within this proposed 373-sq-km inviolate area are 1,800 acres of coffee estates owned by prominent companies. Coffee farming is pesticide-intensive and highly polluting, but the companies have 99-year leases from the Forest and Revenue Departments. Most of the estates have lease periods extending beyond 2030 and 2060.

A forest official admitted that it would be “impossible” to revoke the leases: “The land has been leased out to powerful companies. The only way to get them out would be through a strike or public interest litigation.”

Meanwhile, the future of at least 300 Soliga families hangs in the balance. Several questions remain unaddressed: Is there enough land available for resettlement in Gumballi village? Is the land arable? “These are questions for the Revenue Department to answer,” a forest official replied. However, what is certain is that the tribal people and the tigers suddenly find themselves pitted against each other for the first time after centuries of co-existence. The man vs beast conflict is about to begin here.