Khattas – Paradox of Indian Wildlife, by Sumantha Ghosh

Ringora Khatta is located on the right bank of Kosi River, 5 km from Ramnagar. It is surrounded by the forest of Ramnagar Forest Division and Corbett Tiger Reserve

Khatta in the past were used by people from the mountains who would camp here during their barter trips locally called Dhakar to the Ramnagar bazaar. Similarly many herdsmen from mountains would camp in these Khattas as their winter dwellings with there cattle.

Khatta’s are forest land and therefore the present day village of Ringora does not have revenue village status and treated like Forest village. Being located in the vicinity of the CTR these Khatta villages are greatly dependent on fodder from the forest for there cattle. Agricultural productivity is poor since irrigation is not provided and whatever little that grows if damaged by wild herbivores no compensation is provided except for damage caused by elephants. Compensation is however provided for livestock depredation by the Forest department. Therefore there exists a situation where both the local people and the surrounding wildlife pose problems to each other

Such traditional forest villages surrounded by rare fauna and flora are today the most important areas to target grassroots awareness programmes, in order to foster an understanding and tolerance of wildlife, especially amongst the children.