BELAGAVI, 11 DEC 

Steps will be taken to relocate the residents of Amagaon village in Belagavi district to curb human-wildlife conflict and to integrate forest-dwelling communities with society, Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre said on Thursday.

The assurance came after the residents of Amagaon, located inside the forests of Khanapur taluk, met him and submitted a relocation request.

Addressing the residents, Khandre said that after he took charge, 27 families from Talewadi in the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary were relocated voluntarily. The Bhimgad sanctuary is not a tiger reserve.

Similarly, steps will be taken to relocate Amagaon and other settlements as well, he said, in a statement.

Khandre said that some people were spreading misinformation regarding the Talewadi relocation.

"Relocating settlements inside forests will help to bring forest dwellers into the mainstream. It will also reduce human-wildlife conflict. Forests will also regenerate better without human intervention," he said.

He pointed out that while some demand all kinds of facilities for themselves, they expect forest dwellers to remain in the forest without any basic amenities.

"They unnecessarily complain to block welfare programmes launched with good intent by the government. They also mislead forest dwellers," he said.