Bhubaneswar, Feb. 25 -- Noted environmentalist Prafulla Samantara on Tuesday strongly criticized the Similipal Tiger Reserve Authority for denying the Munda tribal community the
right to worship their Ishta deity and ancestors and pray for the well-being of Similipal.
Addressing a press conference, Samantara stated that despite the Munda tribal community of Similipal having lived harmoniously with the forest and wildlife in Yamunagarh village for
generations, they were forcibly displaced in two phases, in 2015 and 2022.
Currently, they are living in extremely difficult conditions in Nabera Colony in Udla Block, about 130 km away from their ancestral lands.
He alleged that the Munda tribals have been dispossessed in blatant violation of...