Field director-cum-chief conservator of forest PTR MP Singh has asked his officials to ensure at least ten eco tourism places in tiger reserve to take off the pressure of Betla as it is every tourist’s address.
Speaking to the Pioneer Singh said, “If there are more sightseeing places under eco tourism then the pressure on National Park Betla will be considerably eased out.”
However, sources said camps of security forces have upset the applecart of PTR. There is a security base at Kaer about twelve Kms away from Betla. Security forces have occupied the Kaer FRH (Forest rest house) here over the last many years as a result there is no flow of tourists here. One other security camp is right 400 meter above a hill in PTR called labher.
Sources reminded that some ten years ago tourists used to stay in this Kaer FRH where the villagers used to provide them clean water, safety and hot food but with the Kaer FRH’s occupancy by security forces this is all now a thing of the past.
Apart from this field director’s another concern is the safety and security of wild life. There is National Highway in this PTR from North to South. The railway line is East to South in PTR. And these two have taken a toll of wild lives in the past too.
Field director admitted that these two connectivity posing threat to wild life here also become handy in the smuggling of timber and illicit transportation.
Singh told this reporter that a week back some anti social elements had threatened the drop gate staff at Kechki More as a result the drop gate staff kept the boom open day and night for days together. He said the drop gate here is now controlled.
Singh said there are just 7 foresters as against the sanctioned strength of 29. Thus it is 24 % of the sanctioned strength.
He said as against the sanctioned strength of 175 forest guards there are only 9 working and thus it is only 5% strength of forest guards in this PTR.
Field director said the vacancies in forester post and forest guard post is 76 per cent and 95 per cent respectively which is quite a big vacancy by all standard.