Luxury train in Ranthambore

JAIPUR: While the Ranthambore National Park (RNP) remains closed for three months between July and September, an exception made this year has irked the common man and wildlife enthusiasts. Forty tourists aboard the luxury train Palace on Wheels were allowed to go inside the park for tiger-sighting in August.

Wildlife experts say that the park is essentially for the conservation of tiger, while tourism is just a corollary. "The tigers get just these three months unhindered by human intervention. The entire objective of national parks is to maintain a protected area as close as possible to the natural habitat. And to disturb the park at this time is uncalled for", said an expert.

However, government officials said that special permission was sought only for this year. "We had to approach the CM to get a special clearance. We could not have skipped Ranthambore as it is part of the itinerary and highlighted in the marketing of the train within the country and abroad. Next year, we will not promote the park as a destination for the months of July, August and September," said Manjit Singh, RTDC chairman and managing director.

It was only after a series of meetings between chief secretary T Srinivasan and forest minister Ramlal Jat that the clearance came from CM Ashok Gehlot. But it had a rider this would be the last time an exception was made in the case of the two luxury trains, the Palace on Wheels and the Royal Rajasthan on Wheels.

Tour operators also feel that the government had to bend its rules because it can't backtrack after committing to an international tourist. "The international consumer laws are very stringent and if Ranthambore was skipped from the itenary, the RTDC would have had to refund the entire amount. That may be the reason why the CM had to grant permission to the PoW to enter," said a tour operator.

However, others may not agree. "This sounds discriminatory. Either they should open it for everyone or shut it completely. There are areas in the buffer zone that are rocky and not affected by rain. Permitting tourists just here would also help check the grazing menace as the forest officials are not very vigilant," said Dharmendra Khandal, a conservation biologist with the NGO Tiger Watch don't agree.

A visit to the Ranthambore Park is part of the much-publicized itinerary of the PoW, which is considered number four in its category in the world. While the government has been sanctioning a visit into the forest in September for many years, this year the PoW chugged off a month in advance. The itinerary had been sold months in advance.

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