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Bandipur updatesLPG stoves in, firewood out in Bandipur According to park authorities, 25,000-odd families in these villages extract an average of 10 kg each of firewood per day. |
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MYSORE, DHNS: The response to BNP's ambitious project of providing alternative cooking fuel to villagers living on the park borders in order to reduce pressure on the park, has been overwhelming as the villagers are waiting with money to get the alternative fuel. Bandipur is perhaps the best remaining stretch of habitat for the Asiatic elephant. The diversity and density of bigger mammals in the park is astounding, and comparable only to the Savannahs of Africa. Endowed with diverse geographical and decidous vegetation, the park supports a remarkable assemblage of large mammals, birds, insects and reptiles. Despite being clearly demarcated from the outside world, the pressure from firewood removal and livestock grazing was gnawing away at the insides of the park. According to BNP, perennial water sources are going dry and ground water levels have receded from 90 to 350 feet in the border villages over the last five years. The rate of degradation has reached such astounding proportions that it has become impossible for the park to sustain any longer. Therefore, the BNP launched the project to distribute alternative cooking fuel to the villagers to reduce the demand for firewood inside the park. There are 150 villages dotting the periphery of BNP in which around 1.5 lakh people and an equal number of livestock live. According to park authorities, 25,000-odd families in these villages extract an average of 10 kg each of firewood per day which amounts to a staggering 25,000 kg of firewood everyday. The BNP established Namma Sangha, Bandipur, a registered body to provide cooking gas connectivity for each of the families living on the forest boundary. The project of providing cooking gas (LPG) to the villagers at a nominal cost, was formally launched in June 2004. What is noteworthy is that a large number of villagers are coming forward to make use of alternative fuel and help the BNP in its efforts to reduce the demand of firewood inside the park. According to BNP, the response from the villagers to the initiative has been overwhelming. The Indian Oil Corporation, which had sanctioned a gas agency to the park, allotted one more agency to the park considering the growing demand. The agency was commissioned at B Matakere in H D Kote taluk on Wednesday.
Gas agency They said on Wednesday that 16,000 connections will be given in another two months as the director, Project Tiger has sanctioned 10,000 more connections under the project. During the first half of June 2004, 2,000 families were provided with LPG connections. As of now already 3,400 families have been provided with LPG connections. The cylinders are being delivered to their doorsteps through an autorickshaw. Today, about 2,000 villagers are eagerly waiting with money to get LPG connections. According to BNP DCF Mr Yatish Kumar, the pace at which the project is progressing, has left in a dearth of funds. Nevertheless, the results of the project are strikingly visible. ''A basic monitoring of firewood consumption by 50 families in four villages shows a drastic decrease from an average of 10 kg per day per family to less than one kg a day per family.'' Apart from this direct effect, the relationship between the villagers and the park managers is becoming increasingly cordial. This will go a long way in conserving the park, he feels.
Plan to dig trenches around Bandipur National Park
MYSORE, March 9 2005. The Minister was speaking at B. Matakere in H.D. Kote taluk, near here, after inaugurating the free distribution of LPG gas connections organised by Namma Sangha. Mr. Prasad said the comprehensive project at a cost of Rs. 115 crores will involve laying service roads along the periphery of the forest and erecting solar electric fences. All these are being taken up to prevent wild animals, especially elephants from straying out of forests to the nearby villages. The Minister urged the villagers to support the Government's initiative. Compensation for the crop losses can be delayed. Losses may not be covered fully by the compensation awarded to villagers. About the distribution of LPG cylinders to the villagers through Namma Sangha, the Minister said the effort will reduce pressure on forests as villagers will ot venture inside to collect firewood. While 25,000 families in 171 villages on the periphery of forests have been identified, 16,000 families will receive the LPG connections by the end of two months. He said the Centre has granted a financial assistance of Rs. 55 lakhs to Namma Sangha, and that the whole project of providing LPG connections to 25,000 families will be completed in the next one year.
Yellow cards On the information technology front, the Minister said the department will be computerised and the yellow cards to be distributed to the beneficiaries on the lines of credit cards. The Government is footing around Rs. 700 crores towards the distribution of rice and wheat at a subsidised rate. Yatheesh Kumar, Divisional Forest Officer, Bandipur National Park, said that Namma Sangha had received a overwhelming response from the villagers in the periphery of the national park. He said the Indian Oil Corporation encouraged by the response has sanctioned one more LPG agency at B. Matakere to service the people residing in the region. Mr. Yatheesh Kumar said: "A basic monitoring of firewood consumption by 50 families in four villages shows a drastic decrease from an average of 10 kg a day per family to less than a kg a day per family. Apart from the direct effect, the relationship between the villagers and the park authorities is becoming increasingly cordial." Namma Sangha was formed in 2003 to provide alternative cooking to villagers, and with an intention to reduce the demand for firewood from the park. A pilot project in 150 villages in the periphery of the park has revealed that nearly 2.5 lakh kg. of firewood is being extracted from the Bandipur forests daily to support nearly 1.5 lakh people and an equal number of livestock. (source : http://www.hindu.com/) |
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