Government-owned jungle resorts yet to get ‘legal’ stamp

The Hindu: Bangalore: Tuesday, 17 February 2015.

Running amidst verdant greenery in some of the most picturesque forests in the State, the government-owned Jungle Lodges and Resorts (JLR) is yet to receive approval that would stamp its operations as ‘legal’.

Currently, officials said the premium eco-tourism resort was running in a grey area – that is, the resorts continue to operate while ‘awaiting’ a decision on its applications seeking approval filed with the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF).

In a reply to a Right to Information (RTI) query filed by Ballari-based environmentalist Santosh Martin, the Forest Department has admitted that JLR does not have permission from the Centre or a government agency.

The RTI query lists the “violating” JLR camps as: Bheemeshwari Fishing camp, Galibore Fishing Camp, Doodmakali Fishing Camp all in Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, K. Gudi in BRT Tiger Sanctuary and River Tern Resort at Bhadra Tiger Reserve.

According to the MoEF, eight proposals of diversion of forest land submitted by JLR, including the ones mentioned above, in 2012 are pending at various levels. The permissions pertain to nearly 40 hectares of protected forest land.

“Until all the permissions are given, the resorts must be shut down or shifted out of the park limits,” said Mr. Martin, who said he would approach the courts against JLR. Moreover, JLR runs resorts in Bandipur and K. Gudi well within the Tiger Sanctuary, which is contrary to the 2012 MoEF guidelines that say resorts in core areas must be “phased out gradually”. However, Forest Department officials said as there was no specified time limit for “phasing out”, JLR is running operations as before.

Confusion on status

The confusion of the status of the resorts is apparent in the government Orders for the renewal of MoUs with JLR.

In the case of the Bhadra resort, the State government has termed JLR as a forestry activity (see rule book in graphic). It was only after the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee visited the State in 2012 that the resort was asked to file for forest clearances. “We have sought clarifications from the MoEF on eco-tourism, and this is under process. We will get our clearances, and we will be functioning till the decision is made,” said Vijay Sharma, Managing Director of JLR.