The residents of villages in the vicinity of Nandan Van Zoo on the outskirts of the city have once again raked up the issue of demanding free access to the zoo premises. Hundreds of angry villagers on Saturday staged a protest in front of the zoo, while demanding the removal of Zoo’s Ranger lalaram Verma, whom they claim was not allowing them free access to the Zoo premises.
The villagers from Hathband, Atari and other nearby villages in the vicinity of Nandan Van zoo also alleged misbehaviour on part of the Ranger with the villagers. The villagers warned that if Verma was not immediately removed, they would launch an indefinite dharna in front of the Zoo. Notably, villagers of the nearby areas of Nandan Van have been enjoing the privilege of free access to the Zoo even along with their guests.
The villagers have also lodged a complaint against the Ranger with the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) P. Toppo. The issue erupted on April 24 when some of the guests of the villagers were denied access to the Zoo even after a Sarpanch’s intervention. This incident flared up the issue and angry villagers staged a protest against Ranger lalaram Verma on Saturday Morning.
The villagers also staged a sit-in alongwith Sarpanch of Hathband village, Nikhil Nishad and Ex Sarpanch Kuleshwar Chandrakar who informed that a few months back they had a discussion with DFO P Toppo regarding providing free access to the villagers to the Zoo and despite that the new Ranger had denied the same to the villagers.
They alleged that while villagers started agitating in front of the Zoo , DFO Toppo reached the spot and had a long discussion the angry villagers. Both Nishad and Chandrakar asserted that Ranger Verma should be removed from his current assignment forthwith.
They demanded that villagers should be granted free access to the Zoo as the matter was resolved at a pevious meeting besides local workers should be given preference for taking up small jobs at the Zoo.
According to DFO Toppo, the grievance of the villagers have been heard after having a discussion with them. ‘ We have not yet decided on anything now, but will surely consider their demands,’ he said.