Key Points
Raja Mayong:For several days now, rumours of losing their homes have haunted villagers living near Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Assams Morigaon district..
Earlier this month, the Assam cabinet decided to withdraw a 26-year-old forest department notification declaring Pobitora a wildlife sanctuary.But days later,on 13 March, the Supreme Court blocked this move..
While wildlife conservationists see the courts move as a win for the sanctuary, home to the worldshighest density of one-horned rhinos, the villagers fear losing the land where they have been living and farming for years..
The 17 March 1998 notification that declaredPobitora a wildlife sanctuary covered 15.84 sq km of Pobitora Reserve Forest (RF), 11.97 sq km of Raja Mayong RF, and 11 sq km of other khas areas.Then, on 13 May of the same year, in another notification, the sanctuary was expanded to encompass additional khas land, increasing the total area to 38.85 sq km (3,880.62 hectares)..
With animals and people both vying for space in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, the Assam governments proposed solution is to transform villagers into the frontline defenders of the burgeoning rhino and buffalo populations,a system that many conservation activists and NGOs have been advocating for..
