INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
JAIPUR: The black marketing of VIP special quota safari trips in Ranthambore National Park (RNP), a world-renowned tiger reserve, is an open
secret among both tourists and locals in the area
However, this has not been exposed till now.A recent internal inquiry report by the officiating chief conservator of forests (CCF) of
Ranthambore, P Kathirvel, has opened the lid on the alleged sale of VIP safari trips to luxury hotels at exorbitantly high rates and the
nexus that has flourished between officials, agents, and hoteliers in the area.While the government safari fee under the VIP special quota
is Rs 7,830 per vehicle (depending on the choice of vehicle), the same is allegedly sold for over Rs 50,000 in the grey market
In the confidential report, a copy of which is with TOI, the CCF has also recommended the head office to hand over the probe to the
anti-corruption bureau (ACB)
The report mentions the alleged involvement of a field director, deputy conservator of forests (DCF), tourism, and a forest guard.However,
Kathirvel refused to comment on the report as it was confidential while acknowledging submitting a report to the head office
Sources in the department said it was submitted some time ago, but so far, no action has been taken
Despite several attempts, TOI was unable to reach the head of forest forces (HoFF), Munish Garg, for his comments.The inquiry initiated on a
complaint of Deepak Dangindorya, Congress leader and vice chairperson of the State Safai Karamchari Commission on the black marketing of
safari trips for VIPs through luxury hotels."The government fee for a VIP special quota safari vehicle is Rs 7,830, excluding Rs 3,300 (for
vehicle choice) and Rs 530 for the guide
However, it was learnt that these were being sold at Rs 49,000 plus GST (Rs 57,820) to a luxury hotel through brokers
In March, four vehicles associated with a luxury hotel were allowed safaris 148 times for an estimated revenue of approximately 57 lakh,"
The Ranthambore tiger T-136, which reached Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh nearly 8 months ago, has been spotted again
In March, the big cat travelled nearly 600 km to reach KNP, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Project Cheetah
Since then, the tiger has been living in Kuno
Mohit Gupta, DFO, Ranthambore, said, "There is constant correspondence between the forest departments of the two states
Two days ago, the MP department sent us photographs to identify the tiger
We have confirmed it is the male tiger T-136 that ventured out from Ranthambore."An expert mentioned that in March, tiger movement was
recorded near the Pohri village trijunction of Shivpuri and Sheopur, nearly 25 km from the enclosure that houses 20 cheetahs
Similarly, in May, pugmarks were detected in the Basantpura area, which is in the unfenced region towards Palpur East, approximately 5 km
from the cheetah enclosure
"After moving out of RNP, the tiger travelled a long way to reach Kuno and has settled there since then
It had earlier ventured close to human settlements near Gangapur city before it reached Dholpur forest."A senior biologist in RNP said, "The
tiger traveled approximately 600 km."
