Nagpur: At a time when everything has been unlocked in Maharashtra, the Nagpur district administration has failed to lift restrictions on the number of tourists in sanctuaries under Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR).
Many tourists are frustrated that the district collector, who is also the chairperson of District Disaster Management Authority, is not taking a call on lifting Covid-19 restrictions allowing six tourists in one safari vehicle. Collector Ravindra Thakare did not respond to TOI calls.
Divisional commissioner Dr Sanjeev Kumar said, “I will sort out the issue.”
Pench CCF & field director Ravikiran Govekar said, “We are pursuing the district collector to lift the restrictions.”
The tourist restrictions are there despite the state government allowing all establishments like hotels, lodges, food courts, theatres, malls, beer bars, coaching classes, schools, colleges, etc to open. Like in wildlife parks, here the government has not barred people below 10 years and those above 65 years and pregnant women.
This stringent condition has hit tourism hard in Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) after which it sought permission from PCCF to relax the said condition.
Based on the prevailing state government orders, the then acting PCCF (wildlife) MK Rao on October 21, 2020, issued directions that if children below 10 years are from the same family, then six persons in one Gypsy would be allowed for safari.
The decision on tourists above 65 years was left out depending on the Covid-19 situation. The directions were issued to all sanctuaries and national parks in Vidarbha.
Based on state government unlock guidelines, Chandrapur district collector Ajay Gulhane on October 22 lifted the restriction on the movement of people above 65 years and children below 10 years, and pregnant women. This relaxation though was not specific to the park but benefited Tadoba.
“Since then six persons are allowed for a safari in one Gypsy in TATR, excluding guide and driver. It is not necessary that tourists should belong to one family. Similar is the trend in wildlife parks like Pench, Kanha, Bandhavgarh in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh,” says a resort owner Sandeep Singh.
“How can two different yardsticks be applied for parks under Nagpur revenue division?” said Vijay Verma, a wildlife lover and regular visitor to parks.
“The authorities in Maharashtra need to take a pragmatic decision on the age restrictions in national parks. Cinema halls restaurants etc do not have any age restrictions. Have the authorities considered the plight of nuclear families of wildlife enthusiasts or senior citizens?” said Verma.
“What is perfectly fine in Tadoba is a strict no-no in other parks in the adjoining district of the same state. It’s high time that authorities review these restrictions and lift them to promote wildlife tourism which has a proven record of benefiting all stakeholders while being considered a relatively safer tourism option,” said Verma.