News Analysis India

Tag: Jim Corbett National Park

  • CBI begins probe into illegal felling of 6,000 trees at Pakhro Tiger Safari in Corbett

    Express News Service

    DEHRADUN: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has started investigating the tiger safari construction case in Jim Corbett National Park. The CBI had sought documents related to vigilance in the case, which was confirmed by State Vigilance Director Dr V Murugesan that, “the documents sought by the CBI related to the case have been handed over to them”.

    According to the highly placed official sources, “The CBI is likely to soon start questioning the officials concerned as well as former forest minister Harak Singh Rawat in this matter”.

    The CBI is investigating the case on the directions of the Nainital High Court. Earlier, the High Court had taken a tough stand on the illegal construction and felling of more than 6,000 trees during the construction of Pakhro Tiger Safari in the Corbett tiger reserve area. The High Court had asked the government why the case should not be investigated by the CBI.

    In this case, Dehradun resident Anu Pant had filed a public interest petition in the High Court. The petitioner told the court that several reports regarding the illegal felling of 6,000 trees in Corbett were placed before the court. All these reports were shown in detail by the petitioner’s lawyer Abhijay Negi to the court.

    According to sources, “In this case, the CBI may first question about a dozen forest officials, employees and contractors working in the range, including retired and current forest officers associated with the Pakhro Safari construction”.

    Sources also revealed, “The main focal point of the CBI probe will also be the then Forest Minister Harak Singh Rawat, as vigilance and other investigations are clearly of the opinion that work was started at Corbett Tiger Safari without financial and other clearances under pressure from the then Forest Minister Harak Singh Rawat”.

    So far, investigations by eight agencies have revealed irregularities in the construction of the tiger safari and other tourist facilities at Jim Corbett. More trees were cut than the number, and all kinds of construction were carried out without financial and administrative approval. Boundary walls and buildings were also constructed in the national park.

    DEHRADUN: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has started investigating the tiger safari construction case in Jim Corbett National Park. The CBI had sought documents related to vigilance in the case, which was confirmed by State Vigilance Director Dr V Murugesan that, “the documents sought by the CBI related to the case have been handed over to them”.

    According to the highly placed official sources, “The CBI is likely to soon start questioning the officials concerned as well as former forest minister Harak Singh Rawat in this matter”.

    The CBI is investigating the case on the directions of the Nainital High Court. Earlier, the High Court had taken a tough stand on the illegal construction and felling of more than 6,000 trees during the construction of Pakhro Tiger Safari in the Corbett tiger reserve area. The High Court had asked the government why the case should not be investigated by the CBI.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    In this case, Dehradun resident Anu Pant had filed a public interest petition in the High Court. The petitioner told the court that several reports regarding the illegal felling of 6,000 trees in Corbett were placed before the court. All these reports were shown in detail by the petitioner’s lawyer Abhijay Negi to the court.

    According to sources, “In this case, the CBI may first question about a dozen forest officials, employees and contractors working in the range, including retired and current forest officers associated with the Pakhro Safari construction”.

    Sources also revealed, “The main focal point of the CBI probe will also be the then Forest Minister Harak Singh Rawat, as vigilance and other investigations are clearly of the opinion that work was started at Corbett Tiger Safari without financial and other clearances under pressure from the then Forest Minister Harak Singh Rawat”.

    So far, investigations by eight agencies have revealed irregularities in the construction of the tiger safari and other tourist facilities at Jim Corbett. More trees were cut than the number, and all kinds of construction were carried out without financial and administrative approval. Boundary walls and buildings were also constructed in the national park.

  • Jim Corbett Park may be renamed ‘Ramganga National Park’

    By PTI

    DEHRADUN: Jim Corbett National Park, a world-renowned tiger reserve in Uttarakhand, may be renamed as Ramganga National Park in the future.

    Union Minister of State for Forest and Environment Ashwini Kumar Choubey hinted about the change in name of India’s first national park which is spread over an area of about 521 km.

    He recently mentioned it in a museum guest book on his tour of the park.

    He wrote that the name of Jim Corbett National Park should be changed to Ramganga National Park.

    Jim Corbett National Park Director Rahul confirmed this but declined to comment further.

    However, wildlife lovers have expressed their displeasure over the probable name change.

    Wildlife lover Prakash Kimothi said, “We should focus more on preserving our heritage than changing the name.”

    If Jim Corbett park’s name is changed, it will not be the first time.

    The park, which was named Hailey National Park at its inception in 1936, was renamed after hunter-turned-conservationist Jim Corbett two decades later.

    However, for some time in between, it was also named Ramganga National Park as the Ramganga, a tributary of the Ganga passes through it.

    Most of the park falls in the Nainital district and is renowned for its healthy density of tigers.

  • SC stays Jim Corbett National Park decision to allow private buses in core area of Tiger reserve

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Thursday stayed an order of Jim Corbett National Park allowing buses of a private operator to ply within the core area of the Tiger reserve in Uttarakhand.

    A bench of Chief Justice SA Bobde and Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian issued notice to the Centre, Uttarakhand, National Tiger Conservation Authority, National Board of Wildlife and officials of Jim Corbett National Park and sought their responses.

    Advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal, who filed the petition, told the bench that the decision of the Jim Corbett National Park was in violation of Wildlife Protection Act.

    He alleged that forest officials of the State in order to provide wrongful gain to a private sector company has allowed them to ply their private buses within the core area of the Tiger reserve.

    Bansal contended that as per provisions of Wildlife Protection Act is required to be kept as inviolate area for the purpose of tiger conservation.

    “It is respectfully submitted that Director, Corbett Tiger Reserve vide its Office Order dated December 23, 2020 has allowed buses of a private sector company to ply within the core area of Corbett Tiger Reserve, Uttarakhand”, his plea said.

    He said that director of Jim Corbett National Park, while allowing private buses to ply within the core area of the tiger reserve, respondent number-7 (director of Jim Corbett National Park) has not only violated the law of land but has also compromised with the safety, protection and conservation of the national animal “Tiger”.

    “It is respectfully submitted that Section 38 (O) of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 provides that Tiger Reserves shall not be diverted for ecologically unsustainable uses, and in case it is required, than it is mandatory for State of Uttarakhand and its Forest Department officials to do the same only after taking approval from National Board for Wildlife and on the advice of National Tiger Conservation Authority,” the plea said.

    Bansal claimed that in the present case neither the forests officials has taken any approval from National Board for Wildlife nor have taken any advice from National Tiger Conservation Authority.

    “It is also important to mention here that recently Wildlife Institute of India also conducted an assessment study wherein it is mentioned that the area in question is home for 19 Tiger’s family”, he claimed, adding that plying of buses in the core area is nothing but an act of compromise with the protection and conservation of the national animal.

    Bansal sought quashing of the order of the director of the national park.