Ramdas Thuse
Special Divisional Representative
Chimur:-
Residents of Kolara (Tukum) village of Chimur taluka in the core zone of Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve locked the gram panchayat around 10:30 on Sunday night, fed up with the arbitrary actions of the sarpanches. The gram panchayat has been locked since night and the citizens are demanding the dissolution of the gram panchayat.
Kolara (Tukum) village is located in the core zone of Tadoba National Tiger Reserve. Tourist safaris have been going on in the core and buffer zones from the Kolara gateway, which has been operating for many years. Since the entrance is through the village, many people have got employment as gypsy drivers, owners, guides and other ways. Inside the entrance there are many family farms in the core zone. The oppressive rules of the forest department have put a foothold on the farmers, be it agricultural work or animal grazing. Most of the farmers have turned away from agriculture because of the fear of its ferocious wild animal attacks and destruction of crops due to wild animals. Therefore, the villagers and farmers have been demanding for many years that the forest department should construct a core forest area entrance to the fire line. That demand is constantly being ignored. In order to fulfill the said demand, the sarpanch and committee of Kolara Gram Panchayat are not taking correspondence and follow-up with the villagers, so there has been a huge outcry among the citizens.
A gram sabha was held in Kolara Tukum Gram Panchayat on 28th August. At this time, the villagers are alleging that Sarpanch Shobha Koichade ran away without giving satisfactory answers to their questions. In addition to the resolution passed in the Gram Sabha, the Sarpanch, at his own discretion, put the names of Gram Panchayat members, government employees and beneficiaries of various schemes to promote Gypsy tourism and guide them in the village square under the leadership of Tanta Mukti Committee President Ratiram Vandhare, former Tanta Mukti President Ratiram Dekate. Citizens meeting was held.
On this occasion, the sarpanch and forest committee discussed the chaotic management. In the meeting, great discontent erupted against the Sarpanch and the Forest Committee. So last Sunday at around 10:30 pm, they rushed to the Gram Panchayat office. They locked the office of the Gram Panchayat in Dhari demanding that the Sarpanch should resign and dissolve the Gram Panchayat. Hundreds of men and women from Yovali village were present. Sources have informed that the officials of the taluka administration will enter and start the Gram Panchayat on Tuesday.
In the Gram Sabha held on August 28, some persons created a ruckus by drinking alcohol. No one paid serious attention to the resolution taken in the Gram Sabha. On the contrary, they did not believe us, he alleged. This allegation is completely false. Chimur police station has been informed as the villagers locked the Gram Panchayat. Sarpanch of Kolara Gram Panchayat Shobha Koichade responded that further action is underway.
