Nomadic tribe opposes eviction move

  • 30/10/1998

  • Hindu (New Delhi)

Some relief came the way of the nomadic Van Gujjars with the Principal Secretary (Forests), Mr. T. George Joseph, directing the proposed Rajaji National Park authorities not to curtail the traditional rights enjoyed by these tribals till he visited the area and held talks with them.Mr. Joseph was scheduled to attend a meeting organisd by the nomads yesterday but could not do so. A large number of Van Gujjars expressed deep anguish over the move to evict them from the forests while about 3,000 families living in 26 revenue villages within the proposed park area were not being touched.