‘TATR fee hike to help buffer zone villages’

“Last year we distributed over Rs 27 lakh among 53 villages at the rate of about Rs 51,000 each for their developmental needs. As it is TATR rates were among the lowest among all tiger reserves in the country. In Madhya Pradesh,the rates are much higher than even our new rates,” Sinha added. “With increased rates,we would be able to give more to these villages.”

“There are some restrictions on activities of villagers in the buffer zone. As such,we must compensate them in many other ways. The whole gate fee goes to Tiger Foundation,which uses it to meet the developmental needs of the villages,” Sinha said.The new rates,however,are exclusively applicable to TATR and not Pench and Melghat.

Asked how it is justified only for TATR,Sinha said,“because TATR has a huge tourists’ flow. We could hike rates only because there is rush. If we would do that where there is no rush,those places won’t get even those many tourists.”

He said,“We will also be providing tourists with carry bags to put their discarded material which many people throw out in the forest. This would prevent plastics and polythene bags that pose a hazard to wildlife.”

Asked why online booking hasn’t been introduced to avoid rush of tourists at the booking window,Sinha said,“We have appointed a consultant who has developed a prototype. It will be tested soon. We would introduce it thereafter.”