Poor conditions of roads caused by incessant and torrential spells of rains have hit mobility in the Nandhaur Wildlife Sanctuary in Haldwani forest division, affecting even the routine patrolling process.
Due to the blocking of some important roads, including the Chhakata-Sharda range Road, it has become difficult to carry out even routine works like patrolling in the sanctuary, the officials concerned of the sanctuary said.
Besides, the Chorgalia - Durgapeepal Road in the Nandhaur Wildlife Sanctuary area has also been damaged at many places, the officials added.“Rains have damaged several stretches of the main roads passing through the sanctuary,” said PC Arya, SDO, Nandhuary Wildlife Sanctuary, while talking to The Pioneer.However, efforts are on to restore mobility in this area with the available resources and hopefully, mobility would be restored in the sanctuary soon, he assured.
Notably, Nandhaur valley known for its rich natural resources, including flora and fauna, was accorded the status of the wildlife sanctuary in December 2012. With presence of Sal, Shisham, Bamboo, Teak, Chir Pine and riverine forests in super-abundance, it provides favourable habitat for numerous wild animals like tiger, leopard, elephant, Sloth Bear, Mahaseer and Great Pied Hornbill, to name a few.
Therefore, as the officials concerned maintain, the Nandhuar Wildlife Sanctuary offers huge scope for promoting tourism here.The state forest department opened Nandhaur wildlife sanctuary in Haldwani too to adequately tap its tourism potential in full last year, providing it with the requisite infrastructure. Apart from that, the purpose behind putting the aforesaid sanctuary on the tourist map is to de-congest the tourist population involving the Corbett Tiger Reserve in Ramnagar, the officials said.
Tourism activities presently being put on hold following rains, the forest administration is concerned over the fact that last year too, the poor road conditions had badly hit tourism in the Nandhaur Wildlife Sanctuary in the Haldwani forest division. The concern is not without reason because if the mobility is not restored in the aforesaid wildlife sanctuary on time it would not be easy to start tourism activities as per the post-monsoon season schedule.