Munda tribals move HC over Zeenat enclosure covering sacred grove

Cuttack: The enclosure built for tigress Zeenat at Similipal tiger reserve has come under the Orissa high court's scrutiny following a petition seeking the court's direction to shift the enclosure as it covered the "Jayara" or sacred groves and burial ground of the Munda tribals. Taking note of the submissions, the single judge bench of Justice S K Panigrahi issued notices to secretary of Union ministry of tribal affairs, additional chief secretary of the forest & environment department, principal chief conservator of forest (Wildlife), collector & district magistrate (Mayurbhanj), deputy director of Similipal south division, and field director of Similipal tiger reserve.Nandi Ho and two other members of the Munda community of Jamunagarh in Gudgudia gram panchayat under Similipal tiger reserve area in Mayurbhanj district filed the petition. The petition has also sought the court's direction for restoration of the sacred grove to its original condition prior to construction of the enclosure. The petitioners moved the HC after the deputy director of Similipal south division rejected applications for entry into the sacred groves and burial ground used by Munda tribals for generations on Jan 22, 2025. Advocate Afraaz Suhail represented the petitioners. Senior advocate Rajesh Kumar Mohapatra and additional government advocate Debasish Nayak appeared for the state. Justice Panigrahi has posted the matter to March 25 for hearing along with responses that are expected to be filed by then. After spending two-and-a-half months in a small enclosure in Similipal tiger reserve, Zeenat was shifted to a larger one sprawling over 20 acres a week ago, as per the guidelines of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). Zeenat was brought from Tadoba Andheri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra as part of an inter-state tiger translocation project. It first dispersed from Similipal to Jharkhand and then to West Bengal. She was recaptured on Dec 28 last year in West Bengal and was brought back on Jan 1. An NTCA team visited Similipal soon after it was lodged in the small enclosure and suggested some changes, including a larger enclosure, to study its hunting skills and provide a habitat akin to a natural environment.