19 crore-worth illegal structures in Corbett

DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand’s “biggest wildlife rescue centre”, Dhela, situated in the buffer zone of Corbett was constructed without “valid permission”, said a communique by the forest department on Thursday following extensive investigation. It added that funds were also taken from the Tiger Conservation Foundation account for construction in the “core” area of the reserve, which is restricted. Nearly Rs 19 crore was utilised for making the rescue centre.
Uttarakhand’s chief wildlife warden Parag Dhakate ordered the current director of Corbett Tiger Reserve, Naresh Kumar, to file an FIR and initiate legal action against “all those involved in such illegal construction activities and financial transactions”. The Dhela Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation and Conservation Centre currently houses five leopards and two tigers.
TOI had earlier reported about the illegal tree felling and construction works at the premier tiger reserve during the Covid lockdown. The high court had also taken suo motu cognisance of the report.
The communique disclosed massive violations of rules and regulations in the works pertaining to the rescue centre. Dhakate highlighted the deviation from forest, wildlife and zoo-related laws on the basis of findings by the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) inspection team.
Dhakate ordered an FIR and said, “Works worth crores were done in Dhela without clearance from the secretariat. Financial approvals from authorised officials were also not taken.”