LPG scheme a big hit in Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve buffer villages

CHANDRAPUR: Buffer zone management of Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) has gained major success in mitigating man-animal conflict under its jurisdiction through LPG connection distribution scheme. There is no incidence of carnivore attacks on humans in 16 beneficiary villages covered in the fist phase this year. The scheme has got overwhelming response and 30 more villages in buffer area have come up with the demand of LPG connection in second phase of the scheme. Buffer zone of TATR has 79 villages. Each household requires approximately 2 to 2.5 metric tonne of firewood per year, which puts huge pressure on forests. With high number of humans venturing into forest, the risk of carnivore attacks on them is also high. In most of the cases conflict resulted while collecting firewood from the nearby forest areas. Loss of human life due to tiger attacks leads to tense situation in the village and the ire is often shown against the forest staff who have to bear the brunt of such situations. While the number of tigers is going up in the area, it has become bigger challenge to manage the conflict situations for forest officers and staffers.
As a remedy DCF, Chandrapur forest division, P Kalyankumar came up with idea of distributing LPG connections to the buffer villagers at 75% subsidized rates to minimize their dependency on forests. In first phase 16 villages were provided LPG connection. Nearly 70% families in the villages took advantage of LPG scheme. In all 16 villages, no case of human injury or death has been reported for last four months, which points out that villagers are not going to forest areas for firewood collection, their encounter with carnivores have reduced.
"Thanks to LPG connection I have not gone to the forest for last many months for firewood collection. Having LPG connection has also spared me some time to help the family in fields or children in their studies," said Archana Das of Walani.
Beneficiary Walani in Chichpally forest range has 118 families. Out of these, 73 families are covered under the scheme. Remaining 45 families have paid in advance for their LPG connection in second phase.
"We women used to go in clusters every day early in the morning for firewood. Risk of attack from some carnivore was involved in every trip. Still there was no alternative, as food could not be cooked without firewood. But now we have got LPG connection, hence why go out into jungle risking our life," said Tai Ghodam. She is JMF committee member that coordinated in distribution of LPG connection in the village.
Forest guard of Walani beat MR Waghmare said, that they have got a tiger and bunch of leopards and bears the forest around. "One Devidas Todase from adjacent Check Borda village was killed in tiger attack on December 15, 2010. Since then, people reel into fear of tiger attack every time they venture into the forest. LPG connection scheme has come as respite to them.".
DCF Kalyankumar said, "Villagers in buffer area are approaching us for LPG scheme. All 140 families in Palasgaon have deposited money in advance for the connection. We will take up the scheme in 30 other villages and cover the non-beneficiary families of first 16 villages in the second phase."