Activists have accused the Corbett tiger reserve management of abetting violations by tourists who are being allowed to enter the protected forest area in private vehicles and that too without nature guides. The tourists are also being allowed to get out of their vehicles in the core zone and disturb wildlife in violation of rules and litter the area with the authorities remaining apathetic.
However, the Corbett director has refuted the allegations stating that rules are relaxed on humanitarian grounds, adding that one cannot avoid entertaining VIPs. The question being asked is that in a situation wherein the Corbett administration is not able to prevent tourists from acting in a manner which not only disturbs wildlife but also puts the lives of the tourists in danger, will the Corbett administration own up in case some untoward incident occurs involving the visitors and wildlifeIJ
In a letter written to the Corbett director RK Mishra, PFA Uttarakhand member secretary Gauri Maulekhi pointed out that though only registered green Gypsy jeeps with yellow number plates are allowed to carry tourists inside Corbett and that, too, in regulated numbers, unaccountable private vehicles are being allowed to enter the national park. "Tourists are creating ruckus and disturbing the movements of wildlife with upto 15 vehicles at one spot at times. Though it is mandatory for each vehicle to be accompanied by a registered nature guide, tourists rarely hire them especially in Dhikala or Dhangarhi. Tourists venture out of their vehicles without compunction even in the core zone and disturb the wildlife. They are seen throwing polythene, empty bottles, cigarette butts etc in the core zone but are neither stopped nor penalised as such actions go unreported. Since they are not accompanied by nature guides, tourists often underestimate the danger into which they put themselves and the wildlife," she said.
Stating that tiger sightings have been low this year, she has requested the Corbett director to ensure that aiding and abetting non-adherence to rules is stopped without delay.
However, the Corbett director denied the allegations and said that tourists were allowed to enter in private vehicles only on humanitarian grounds. Mishra said, "The temperature is rising with the advent of summer; so we allow old people and children to travel the 32 km from Dhangari to Dhikala in private vehicles. VIP culture is spread across the nation, how can we avoid itIJ"