‘Encroachment on an alarming rise’
An activist has elicited focus of the authorities on the absence of boundary pillars at various places in Rajaji National Park as a result of which encroachment is rising in different parts of this national park.
In a letter written to the State’s principal secretary, Forests, PFA Uttarakhand member secretary Gauri Maulekhi has pointed out that encroachment in the national park is increasing at an alarming rate due to the absence of boundary pillars in different areas.
This in turn it increasing the risk faced by the wildlife and the forest land in the national parks with humans and constructions inching closer. She states, “The boundary pillars erected along the borders of the Rajaji national park in the past have been destroyed in various places by people who are now encroaching on the national park’s land.
Such encroachment can be seen near Dudhadhari Ashram, Khadkhadi, Mayapur water tank, Mansa Devi area and Himalayan Colony in the Haridwar range in addition to Vaidik Colony, the area near Motichur settlement and near Gohri Mafi village in the Motichur range of the national park.
The removal of boundary pillars by encroachers and the resulting increase in encroachment in important areas of the national park is not only affecting the habitat and movements of the wild animals but also increasing human-wildlife conflict in the area.
A survey needs to be taken to erect boundary pillars along the borders of the national park without delay failing which it will become more difficult for the authorities to act against the encroachments and ensure the desired condition of the wildlife habitat and movement of wild animals in the future.
Failure to tackle the problem now will further escalate the human-wildlife conflict and pose problems in the protection of elephants and tigers among other wild animals in the area,” she states.
PFA Uttarakhand has requested the principal secretary, Forests, to order a survey of the national park’s border and get boundary pillars erected where missing. The organisation has also sought removal of the encroachments from the national park’s lands.