Odisha’s Debrigarh Sanctuary freed from human settlement 

Debrigarh, a wildlife sanctuary in Odisha’s Bargarh district, has been made completely free from any human settlement following one of the country’s largest ‘peaceful’ relocations of forest-dwellers

Debrigarh, a wildlife sanctuary in Odisha’s Bargarh district, has been made completely free from any human settlement following one of the country’s largest ‘peaceful’ relocations of forest-dwellers.  

As many as 400 families have moved out their villages after a series of consultations. In a State where permanent human settlements are common even within wildlife sanctuaries, Debrigarh now stands out as an exception alongside Nalabana Bird Sanctuary in Chilika Lake.

The positive impact of this relocation was immediately evident when a tiger from the neighboring Chhattisgarh crossed over into Debrigarh which is spread over over 353.81 sq km area and there was visible drop in incidences of man-animal conflict.

“The relocation of villagers assumed significance as inhabitants did not have access to basic facilities such as electricity, healthcare and education. It was also a mandate to make critical wildlife sanctuaries inviolable. This is win-win situation for both,” said Anshu Pragyan Das, Divisional forest officer (DFO) Hirakud Wildlife Division (Debrigarh sanctuary’s administrative unit). No force was used for relocating villagers from the sanctuary.

During the construction of the Hirakud Dam in 1950s, many families of Rengali, Bhutuli, Kurumkel and Lambipali villages were stranded inside the sanctuary. Leave alone the basic facilities, they used to get disconnected during monsoon when streams flowing through the sanctuary were swelling.

Convincing people to leave their forefathers’ villages was not easy. Ever since beginning of relocation process from August 2021 by Hirakud Wildlife Division, villagers were constantly sensitised. In fact, 280 meeting were organised to make people aware of advantage of relocations and benefit of their future generations.

Even groups of villagers were taken on exposure visits to relocated villages in Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar districts.