Expressing dissatisfaction at the reply submitted by the chief secretary regarding tiger deaths in Corbett national park and Van Gujjars living in Corbett and Rajaji national parks, the high court has directed him to submit a reply again on August 9. The high court has also asked as to under which Act are guest houses being operated in national parks.
Hearing on a public interest litigation filed by Ramnagar-based Himalayan Gramin Yuva Sanstha, the division bench of justices Rajiv Sharma and lok Pal Singh had earlier asked the chief secretary Utpal Kumar Singh about the number of Van Gujjar families living in Corbett and Rajaji. The court had also asked how long it would take the Government to resettle these families outside the national parks. Hearing on the PIl earlier on August 2, the division bench had directed the chief secretary to submit an affidavit in this regard within 24 hours. However, as the chief secretary was unable to do so due to some reasons, he was allowed to submit the same on Monday. The high court had also asked the chief secretary as to when would the special tiger protection force start functioning effectively in the state. Information had also been sought by the court about the action taken by the state so far against notorious poacher gangs and the number of cases registered so far under the Wildlife Protection Act and the action taken in the same. Expressing concern at the death of wild animals like the elephant in accidents on railway tracks and due to electrocution, the high court had also asked the chief secretary if the state had formed any policy on this issue. It is pertinent to mention here that more than half a dozen tiger deaths have been reported in the state this year. A number of elephants have also died due to electrocution and accidents on railway tracks.