HC slams forest dept for promoting ‘VIP culture’ in Tadoba

Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court on Wednesday slammed the forest department for allegedly promoting VIP culture for safaris in Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR).
The division bench of justices BP Dharmadhikari and ZA Haq directed PCCF (wildlife) to file an affidavit detailing ‘VIP entries’ permitted by TATR last year.

The court issued the directives while hearing a PIL by wildlife activist Avinash Prabhune who alleged excessive tourism in TATR. The PIL was filed based on a series of TOI reports.

As per the petitioner, the foresters have failed to protect and conserve the forest, and have allegedly misused their power to allow ‘excessive tourism’ in TATR.

The petitioner also challenged the circular on entry rules which fixed an entry fee of Rs8,000 per trip if booked before 120 days. The petitioner said that the forest department is exorbitantly charging the common man while allowing VIPs free visits to the park.

Petitioner’s counsel Tushar Mandlekar said that though only 12 vehicles are allowed in TATR under ‘VIP quota’, papers show that the then field director permitted many vehicles in TATR between April-December 2015 (3,759 vehicles entered the park against permissible 1,248).

He also said that 322 vehicles were permitted in TATR in seven days from October 31, 2016 to November 6, 2016 by the field director against the sanctioned 84 as stated in the affidavit. Hence, misuse of powers in VIP quota by officials is on the record.

The HC asked the forest department counsel why VIP quota is need in the country when such practice did not exist in foreign countries. As per the forest department counsel Chotu Uikey, the field director has to permit foreigners, ministers and politicians to TATR.

According to the petitioner, there is a rampant misuse of power in the forest department and VIPs are permitted in the park in violation of norms. The petitioner has submitted all details in PIL and a rejoinder exposing violation of guidelines issued by NTCA October 15, 2012 under Section 38 (O) of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 issued on the direction of the Supreme Court.

The petitioner has also prayed for quashing fee of Rs8,000 per jungle safari and demanded complete ban on VIP entries in TATR in larger interest of wildlife.