Kuldiha Sanctuary inhabitants resume agitation

BALASORE: Thousands of people from Nilagiri area of Balasore district on Tuesday staged a demonstration before the collectorate to protest the notification relating to demarcation of Kuldiha wildlife sanctuary.The people under the banner of Nilagiri Gadjat Praja Suraksha Committee (NGPSS) took out a rally in the town shouting slogans against the government’s notification to include revenue villages in the sanctuary.The district administration has included 54 hamlets under 12 revenue villages in the notified 272.75 sq. km. sanctuary area.  Committee secretary Buruba Singh said they had filed a PIL seeking exclusion of the hamlets from the sanctuary area.DFO Kedar Swain, however, clarified that the residents had been misguided. “It is not relocation or displacement notice. The inhabitants can stay with a few conditions,” he said.District Collector Akhila Bihari Ota said he would call the residents for a discussion and resolve the matter.