NEW DELHI: Concerned over the blatant commercialisation of areas around tiger reserves, the tourism ministry is considering stricter regulations for resorts and lodges. The guidelines will make it mandatory for lodges to follow ecology-friendly practises.
Union tourism secretary Sujit Banerjee said, "Separate regulations for resorts and lodges that are coming up in eco-sensitive zones are under consideration. The hotels need to follow certain good ecological practises."
A study commissioned by the ministry on Corbett National Park found that 70% of resorts around the area were venues for weddings, rain dances and parties rather than visitors interested in wildlife.
The survey found that there were 77 resorts in the area catering to over 3,000 visitors a day with an additional 17 resorts likely to come up.
The tiger reserve has a ceiling of 600 visitors a day and it is this rampant commercialisation and mismatch in numbers at Corbett that has set off alarm bells within the ministry that is now considering tighter norms for hotels and resorts in ecologically-fragile environments.
The worrying factor is that these regulations have to be implemented by the state governments. Sources said bringing in norms with stiffer penalties may not serve the purpose if state governments were not strict in enforcement.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Poacher held for killing 3 big cats
The Sawai Madhopur police arrested Jankilal Mogiya alias Lodiya, a poacher, for allegedly killing at least three tigers in the reserves of Ranthambhore. Forest officials and an NGO helped the police identify Mogiya, who was also wanted by the Special Operations Group (SOG) in several cases of smuggling of tiger skins.
However, Mogiya landed in police’s lap by chance. The police were on high alert in the wake of growing poaching in Sawai Mdhopur district. While patrolling the tehsil on Monday, police got suspicious of Mogiya.
During interrogation, Mogiya revealed that he had poached three tigers in 2004, in the Hindwal region of Ranthambhore forests.
The forest officials and an NGO, too, identified Mogiya as poacher. After Sansar Chand’s arrest in 2005, the SOG started searching for his aides. Jankilal Mogiya was on the list of accused involved in smuggling of tiger skins.
Dharmendra Khandal, director of Tiger Watch Foundation, said that Mogiya was living under a guise. “He is expert in putting up a guise. Even the police could not identify him till the NGO and forest officials confirmed his identity,” he said
However, Mogiya landed in police’s lap by chance. The police were on high alert in the wake of growing poaching in Sawai Mdhopur district. While patrolling the tehsil on Monday, police got suspicious of Mogiya.
During interrogation, Mogiya revealed that he had poached three tigers in 2004, in the Hindwal region of Ranthambhore forests.
The forest officials and an NGO, too, identified Mogiya as poacher. After Sansar Chand’s arrest in 2005, the SOG started searching for his aides. Jankilal Mogiya was on the list of accused involved in smuggling of tiger skins.
Dharmendra Khandal, director of Tiger Watch Foundation, said that Mogiya was living under a guise. “He is expert in putting up a guise. Even the police could not identify him till the NGO and forest officials confirmed his identity,” he said
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