After Seven Decades, First Lot Of Forest Dwellers In Odisha’s Debrigarh Sanctuary Shift Out, Begin A New Life

Bargarh: Lambipali is a hamlet inside the Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary adjoining the Hirakud Dam in Bargarh district. It came up around seven decades ago, occupied by dwellers displaced by the construction of the dam.

There are no roads connecting the hamlet. No drinking water and health facilities. Surrounded by wildlife, undertaking cultivation is not possible.

But the hamlet’s forest-dwellers have finally left Lambipali — and with it their seven-decade-old way of life, a life cut off from civilization they thought would continue forever.

Relocated under an Odisha government programme, now they hope to cultivate their own land and enjoy access to basic civic amenities.

Lambipali’s residents shifted to their new homes on December 17 under a government rehabilitation programme that was set in motion in August 2021. In celebration, the villagers organised a ‘Parichaya Parba’ and ‘Bandhu Milan Utsav’ in their new colony, inviting people from two neighboring villages, Tangerpali and Kantal.

In August this year, the Hirakud Wildlife Division conducted a series of programmes for intimating the villagers about the government’s policy on village relocation, in which every eligible family is entitled to Rs 15 lakh compensation, 10 decimal patta land and pucca house, besides road, electricity, water and other basic amenities.

On August 25, all the residents of Lambipali expressed their willingness for relocation outside the sanctuary.

Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Hirakud Widllife Division, Anshu Pragyan Das said, “The families dwelling in the sanctuary limits never had a stable livelihood. They could not even take up agriculture because of high density of wildlife population. Though initially they were skeptical about the relocation, with adequate counselling and negotiation, they agreed for relocation from the sanctuary.”

In September, district authorities of Bargarh completed its survey of Lambipali’s residents. Forty-two families were found eligible for relocation. Finally, they were shifted on December 17.

The residents of Lambipali worked as masons and labourers at the resettlement colony built by the Hirakud Wildlife Division. There are community toilets along with a separate bathing ghat for women. Every household has been given water filters. There is proper drainage.

For the first time, their houses have power connection. Construction of a community hall is under progress, which will have library facilities for children and women. Formation of women SHGs is also under progress. Every family of Lambipali has decided to keep Rs 14 lakh as fixed deposit. The interest of over Rs 6,000 per month they will earn will be used to meet living expenses.

After Lambipali, there is a plan to relocate the residents of Kurumkel, Rengali and Bhutuli.

In all, 420 families are being relocated in phases. While Lambipali’s villagers have been resettled at Tengarpali village, those from Kurumkel, Bhutuli and Rengali will be shifted to Lakhanpur and Chakramal in Jharsuguda district.

At the Debrigarh sanctuary adjoining Hirakud Reservoir, wildlife sighting is very high and density of Schedule 1 Species is also high. Hirakud is the lifeline of the sanctuary and hundreds of animals and birds are seen near the reservoir during summer and winter. Debrigarh is also a haven for migratory birds every winter. The relocation has led to a win-win situation for both wildlife and villagers.