Uttarakhand HC: No resorts in jumbo corridor near Corbett

Nainital: The Uttarakhand high court has directed the state government to provide an "eco-sensitive zone" status to the elephant corridor adjoining Corbett Tiger Reserve and disallow "construction of any hotels, resorts, or restaurants there". The court sought adequate arrangements for night guards so that "jumbos can move freely in the dark".

The central and state governments have also been asked to take necessary steps for conservation of traditional elephant corridors, and to look into issues of excessive traffic at night. The HC said construction of roads near the corridor without a proper underpass should be avoided. The corridors have been demarcated in the region as part of Project Elephant, a central initiative to support Asian wild elephants.

The PIL by a Delhi-based NGO claimed that "commercial structures are being built", thereby encroaching upon the corridor. "This is causing a change in behaviour of the jumbos, at times making them violent. There have been more than 20 incidents of elephant attacks here in the past year," the PIL said.