Tadoba Gypsy operators want relaxation of norms Mazhar Ali, TNN

CHANDRAPUR: With forest and RTO authorities inclined to enforce law for tourist vehicles operating in Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), the entire tourist Gypsy business in this tiger abode faces the threat of virtual closure.

Having old and second-hand vehicles without rooftops, Gypsy operators can never obtain tourist permit for their vehicles. Tourist gypsy operators have cried foul and demanded intervention of forest department and relaxation in rules to help them continue to earn livelihood from tourism.

Around 43 tourist Gypsies are operated by local youths of Moharli village, tourist resorts and a few private players in TATR. After it was exposed that the tourist vehicles are operating in blatant violation of RTO regulations, TATR authorities had asked the vehicle operators to comply by all norms by February 28.

TOI had reported on January 23 and February 6 on how many tourist vehicles had illegally installed CNG kits, indulged in overloading of passengers and were not registered with Chandrapur RTO.

However, it turns out that if the tourist Gypsy operators now seek tourist permits, none of them would get it. "As per laws, vehicles older than eight years and not having rooftops cannot get tourist permit. If the operators want tourist permits, they will have comply with norms," said deputy RTO, Chandrapur, Steven Alvares.

The 'Gypsy Chalak Malak Sangh,' a union of tourist Gypsy operators, have sought for relaxation in norms. Union chief Sanjay Mankar agreed that most of the tourist gypsy vehicles are more than eight years old and all of them are roofless. "Former TATR officers encouraged Moharli villagers to take up tourist Gypsy operations a couple of years back. The then officers had assured banning diesel vehicles in TATR as per regulation of NTCA and authorising gypsy vehicles for sole tourist operation in TATR on the lines of Kanha and Bandhavgarh tiger reserves. While none of these assurances have been fulfilled, present officials now talk about law enforcement to snatch away the livelihood of local youths," alleged Mankar.

"At a time when forest officials are talking about creating employment opportunities for villagers living inside buffer zone of TATR, enforcement of traffic-related laws would deny 28 families of Moharli from livelihood. Only relaxation in norms in special case for the TATR could help these poor people out of trouble," pleaded Mankar. "When Gypsies could ply in Kanha and Bandhavgarh, why not in TATR?" he asked.