Now, reaching Tadoba 15-min late for safari to cost you Rs500 fine

Nagpur: After banning cell phones during safari, the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) has come out with another stringent rule imposing a fine of Rs500 on tourist vehicles arriving 15 minutes late.
Interestingly, there is no sanction of the statutory local advisory committee (LAC) to the series of ecotourism decisions being taken by TATR. From January 1, the park management has started implementing minute-to-minute schedule for the year to be followed by the tourists.

Take for example, in January, February, November and December, gates will open at 6.30am and 2pm. No fine will be imposed if vehicles arrive at the gate till 6.45am and 2.15pm, respectively. The gate will remain closed for five minutes from 6.45am to 6.50am. Any vehicle arriving after this time till 7am will be imposed a fine of Rs500 and allowed entry. The gates will be closed at 7am. Similar will be the rule for evening safari when gates will be closed at 2.30pm. In May and June, gates will open at 5.30am and 3pm and close at 6am and 3.30pm. In March, April and October, it will open at 6am and 2.30pm and close at 6.30am and 3pm, respectively. Canter for safari will be kept on standby for 15 minutes after which it will leave.

“Earlier, there was a margin of one hour for tourists to reach the gate. Now, it has been reduced to 15 minutes. This is nothing but taxing tourists, who are already paying through the nose. No other reserves have such quirky rules. Instead, the management should lay stress on better toilets and facilities for tourists at the gate,” says Aditya Joshi, an engineer and regular visitor to Tadoba.

The logic behind introducing the rule is that tourists arrive late and then speed up vehicles to complete the safari in short time. This may take toll on wildlife. Canter tourists also arrive late delaying safaris.

However, tourist Saurabh Sukhdeve argues, “There is no logic in the new move. The drivers and guides are controlled by the park management and tourists should not be targeted. Otherwise also, drivers speed up vehicles at 80 kmph whenever they are intimated about tiger sightings by their colleagues or when they get late while returning. The management should rather focus on enforcement of existing rules.”

Conservationist Udayan Patil says, “Even if tourists arrive late, they will be the sufferers because exit time will be the same for all. So, why unnecessary tax them? The officials should consider delay due to unforeseen circumstances like vehicle snags, traffic disruptions, delayed flights etc.”

“Tourists entering through Kolara and Navegaon gates are worst sufferers as they have to pass through rugged patches and many diversions due to road construction activity for last one year. In Navegaon, the core gate is 8km away from the buffer gate,” said Patil.

LAC members Prakash Kamde and Yogesh Dudhpachare flayed the one-sided decision by TATR. “The LAC is a statutory body constituted after Supreme Court directions, but it was not taken into confidence while banning cell phones, Gypsy fare hike, charging fee for even small cameras and imposing fine on latecomers. We have orally intimated about it to the field director NR Praveen. No LAC meeting has been held since February 2016,” they said.

Praveen says, “A little discipline can make the safari experience enjoyable and safe for fellow tourists as well as animals. We have not fined any tourists in last two days. It is an attempt to create awareness. We have not fined anyone till now.”