The Federation of Forest Association of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve has levelled allegations against Kheri District Magistrate saying that she "violated" the park rules by visiting the tiger reserve during night hours and "harassed" the officials.
Although DM Kinjal Singh today strongly refuted the allegations terming them "totally baseless" and "an outcome of mean mentality".
All I did was that I discharged my duties, she said.
The office bearers of the reserve in a complaint to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister recently alleged that Singh along with her staff visited the tiger reserve area frequently and even during nights, in "sheer violations" of park rules and Wildlife Act.
They also alleged that during her stay, she harassed the park staff and officials.
They further alleged that frequent movement of the DM and her staff inside the park disturbed the animals therein which could result into man-animal conflict.
Dismissing the accusations, Singh said that she frequently visited the area but only to follow the government directives.
"For the past several months, several incidents since April including Nepal earthquake tragedy, Madheshi movement, crossborder human-trafficking and tribal village developments forced me to visit the India-Nepal border, which is accessible only through the park area," she said.
"Whenever a DM visits an area, concerned sub-divisional magistrate and police circle officer and her own staff accompany her which the federation has called her 'kafila'," she added.
Regarding probe of illegal wood felling, she said, "The probe was carried out on the directives of the government about which the park officials were unaware."
Dubbing all allegations as "concocted" and "unfounded", Singh said that she has sent all her reports to the government as and when called.
