Corbett National Park

SC directs Uttarakhand govt to take steps to restore Corbett Tiger Reserve

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Uttarakhand government to undertake restoration measures to undo the damage, including felling of trees and illegal constructions, in the Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve. Issuing a slew of directions, a bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) B R Gavai directed the chief wildlife warden to work in consultation with the apex court-appointed Central Empowered Committee to ensure demolition of all unauthorised structures within three months. "The CEC shall supervise the ecological restoration plan developed by Uttarakhand," the bench directed. It directed the state government to undertake measures to compensate for the illegal tree felling. "If tourism has to be promoted, it has to be eco-tourism," the CJI said while pronouncing the judgement. "We have directed special treatment to those working in the core area away from their families," he said. The state of Uttarakhand is directed to restore and repair the ecological damage caused to the Co

SC raps Uttarakhand govt for 'snail's pace' action on Corbett illegalities

The Supreme Court on Wednesday pulled up the Uttarakhand government for moving at a "snail's pace" against its senior officers accused of illegal constructions in Corbett Tiger Reserve. While ordering for the departmental proceedings to be concluded within three months, a bench of Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih deprecated the state's practice of moving speedily against junior level officers but not against the senior officers. It noted an affidavit of the state elaborated on the departmental proceedings initiated against the officers. Referring to a chart placed before it, the court said the departmental proceedings were completed against 16 of the 17 officers who were in the rank of ranger, deputy ranger, etc. However, one of the officials died in a road accident unfortunately, it added. The bench said another chart indicated the proceedings moving at a snail's pace against senior officers. "We, therefore, direct the state government to conclude all the department

Surveillance tech at Corbett park misused to intimidate women, study finds

Cameras and drones originally planted in Corbett National Park for conservation activities, such as monitoring animals, are being deliberately misused by local government officials and men to surveil women without consent, a study has found. The study, published in the journal Environment and Planning F, revealed that forest rangers intentionally flew drones over local women to scare them and prevent them from collecting natural resources, despite their legal entitlement to do so. A total of 270 residents around the Corbett Tiger Reserve in Uttarakhand, including women, were interviewed over 14 months by researchers from the University of Cambridge, UK. "We argue that the use of digital technologies for forest governance, such as camera traps and drones, tends to transform these forests into masculinised spaces that extend the patriarchal gaze of society into the forest," the authors wrote in the study. Researcher and lead author Trishant Simlai reported that the women, who had ...

Illegal construction in Corbett: SC raps ex-U'khand forest minister Rawat

The Supreme Court on Wednesday came down heavily on former Uttarakhand forest minister and Congress leader Harak Singh Rawat and ex-divisional forest officer Kishan Chand for allowing illegal construction and felling of trees in the Corbett tiger reserve. This is a case where bureaucrats and politicians have thrown public trust doctrine in the waste bin, said a bench headed by Justice B R Gavai. The apex court directed the CBI, which is already probing the case, to file its status report in the matter within three months. "They (Rawat and Chand) have in blatant disregard of the law and for commercial purposes indulged in mass felling of trees to construct buildings in the pretext of promotion of tourism," the bench said. The top court said it was amazed at the audacity of Rawat and Chand in giving statutory provisions a total go by. It also formed a committee to look into whether tiger safaris can be permitted in buffer or fringe areas of national parks in the country. The Enforc

Supreme Court bans tiger safari at Jim Corbett, slams illegal constructions

The SC has asked the CBI to submit a status report on the matter in three months

HC orders CBI probe into illegal constructions, felling of trees in Corbett

The Uttarakhand High Court on Wednesday directed the CBI to probe large-scale felling of trees and illegal constructions carried out in Uttarakhand's Corbett Tiger Reserve. The order was delivered by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Alok Kumar Verma who said a copy of the order should also be sent to Director CBI, New Delhi for compliance. Citing the outcome of various enquiries conducted into the irregularities and field inspections which indicated the involvement of highly placed forest officials, the court in its 16-page order said it cannot remain a "mere bystander or spectator". "... the material on record, does disclose a prima facie case calling for an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation. Therefore the present matter is referred to the CBI for proper and uninfluenced investigation in accordance with law," the court said. It also asked all authorities in the state to cooperate with the probe agency in conducting fair ...

UP plans to upgrade Amangarh tiger reserve, rename it 'New Jim Corbett'

As part of its drive to protect wildlife, UP government is planning to upgrade Amangarh tiger reserve, located adjacent to Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand, and name it 'New Jim Corbett'

Vigilance probe ordered into illegal constructions in Corbett reserve

A vigilance probe has been ordered into the alleged role of officials in the illegal constructions carried out in the buffer zone of Corbett Tiger Reserve, a forest official said here on Wednesday. The vigilance probe into the matter has been ordered on the recommendation of a fact finding team of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), said the official on the condition of anonymity. The team had visited the Pakhro and Morghatti zones of CTR and found that construction of several buildings and a water body had been carried out there without the consent of competent authorities. In a letter to Uttarakhand Chief Wildlife Warden J S Suhag on October 22, the NTCA had asked him to act against the erring officials. Chief Conservator of Forest Sanjeev Chaturvedi who was appointed inquiry officer by Head of Forest Force Rajiv Bhartari has withdrawn from the probe.

Uttarakhand: Jim Corbett Park may be renamed 'Ramganga National Park'

Jim Corbett National Park Director Rahul confirmed this but declined to comment further.

The broom is mightier than the camera

How a village clean-up programme by an NGO gave a facelift to the area in and around Jim Corbett National Park

On the wild side

In the magical world of Corbett, author meets rare birds and elephants. But will she spot the elusive tiger?