Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady (SP)

Belangady, Jan 14: Six families, which had relocated in Sulkeri village near Naravi, after shifting from their homes within the limits of Kudremukh National Park, were driven out of their abodes by the revenue officials on Thursday January 13.

These six persons, Sridhar, Ram, Lakshman, Honnamma, Vasanti and Chandu, were living within the limits of the national park in Kutloor village till six months ago. They were coaxed by former district deputy commissioner, Ponnuraj, into leaving the national park and living in Naidaguri in Sulkeri village, where they set up homes by using cement blocks and sheets. Ponnuraj reportedly had promised them to allot government sites. But these were only oral promises.

Under the orders of the tahsildar here, revenue inspector of Venur came to the spot with police escort, and evicted families from all the six houses, literally driving about 25 persons belonging to Malekudiya community, to streets. Apart from destroying things at home, the cement sheets, wooden pillars etc., were taken away by the labourers. The affected people say that they were not informed in advance about this operation.

The families had raised loans through self help groups to build houses, each of which were valued at around Rs 30,000, and several of the family members had found work here as agricultural labourers, or husk areca nuts. Now they are forced to enter the national parks and live with relatives who are settled there.