Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr Harsh Vardhan has assured that he will instruct the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to look into problems in disbursement of compensation money to the villagers of Raigoda who have been displaced to make way for a tiger project. 

Bibhuti Pati, a Delhi-based Odia journalist, met him and apprised him of the problems of the displaced tribals of Raigoda who have to the bear the brunt of the Satkoshia tiger project. Basing on the news reports, Pati also submitted a memorandum to the Minister.

Dr Vardhan expressed his concern over the death of two tigers in Odisha within a short span of 17 days. From 2004 to 2016 Odisha Forest Department official figures say that 32 tigers in Bhawanipatna forest circle, seven in Koraput circle,  two in Angul circle and 72 in Similipal met their death and in corresponding period seven (as per public figure 10) tigers have died in Satkoshia forest area.

It is to be noted here that between 2004 to 2016 as per the Odisha Forest Department figures more that 120 tigers have died in the forests of Odisha, the maximum casualty being in the Similipal Tiger Reserve.

The State Government has not tried to inquire into the matter, leave aside holding the staffers accountable. Dr Vardhan has assured that he will ask the Government of Odisha to inquire into the large number of tiger deaths in the State and take appropriate measures.

 Dr Vardhan also expressed his concern regarding the death of large numbers of elephants in Odisha and informed that his Ministry will initiate appropriate measures for monitoring of the elephant herds.