TATR resorts told to remove fencing

Chandrapur: The Tadoba administration has served notices to 24 resorts in buffer zone directing them to remove fencing around their premises and warned to close down their establishments if they do not comply with the directives by the end of this month.
The warning comes in the wake of non-compliance of the directives issued by additional chief secretary (CM office), Pravinsingh Pardeshi, for removal of fencing around the resorts to pave the way for roaming of wild animals as per notification of Union ministry of environment and forest and climate control dated July 12, 2018, and notification of urban development ministry of the state on September 20, 2017.

The notifications make it mandatory for the resort owners to have only 10% of its area under non-masonry fence, while 90% of its premises should remain open for free movement of wildlife. However, it has been found that all 24 resorts in buffer zone have covered their entire premises with fencing, thus obstructing the movement of tigers and other wild animals.

Pardeshi had held a meeting with the resort owners on January 20 at Agarzari and had directed them to remove the fencing within three months. However, after buffer zone authorities found that none but one of the resort owner has taken any step towards removal of the fencing even after a month, deputy director, TATR (buffer) G Guruprasad issued the notices.

The strongly worded notice, copy of which is with TOI, states that all resort owners appear to be negative towards safety of wild animals and ecotourism. “If the resort owners fail to comply with the directives by March end, they will face closure and also action under Section 19 of Environment Protection Act, 1986,” the notice said.