| Rajasthan
may ban free entry to Sariska Tiger Reserve
Thursday, 14 February , 2008.
Jaipur: The Forest Department
in Rajasthan has finally woken up from its slumber and plans to ban the
free entry of visitors to the Sariska Tiger Reserve that was posing a threat
to wildlife .
The State Government, considering
the presence of several religious places inside the tiger reserve, had
made entry free on Tuesdays and Saturdays for the benefit of devotees.
But the measure led to increased vehicular movement, disturbing the free
movement of wild animals. Wild animals were also exposed to threats of
poaching and accidents. The noise and air pollution due to the movement
of vehicles also threatened their existence.
But now the Department plans
to ban the entry of private vehicles into the reserve and also proposes
to levy entry fees on visitors. “Private vehicles would only be allowed
till the entry gate of the tiger reserve after which our vehicles - under
all likelihood to run on CNG - would take the visitors to places they wish
to visit in the reserve,” a Forest Department official said. “The State
Government seems to be fully in agreement with the plan. However, getting
the required number of CNG vehicles is yet to be sorted out,” he added.
Even the Central Government
had asked the State Government to control the heavy rush of vehicles in
the reserve during these two days before the rehabilitation of tigers could
begin in the reserve. “It is a step in the right direction. I hope they
implement it soon and it does not remain only on paper,” said Naresh Kadyan,
People for Animals (Haryana).
The Sariska Tiger Reserve,
originally a hunting preserve of the erstwhile princely state of Alwar,
was declared a wildlife reserve in 1955. In 1978 it was declared a Tiger
Reserve. The total area of the park is 866 sq km. Some of the wildlife
found in the reserve includes leopards, jungle cats, hyenas, jackals, chital,
sambars, langurs, wild boar, four-horned deer and many species of birds.
In the past, the Forest Department
and the State Government have faced strong criticism for the disappearance
of tigers from Sariska. A report produced in March 2005 by the Wildlife
Institute of India confirmed that there were no tigers left in the reserve.
Now, as part of the government's plan to rehabilitate tigers in the
Sariska reserve, villages within the reserve are being relocated to make
space for the big cats.
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