Opening, closing dates of national parks, sanctuaries changed in Madhya Pradesh - Hindustan Times
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Opening, closing dates of national parks, sanctuaries changed in Madhya Pradesh

Hindustan Times | ByRahul Noronha, Bhopal
Apr 28, 2015 06:01 PM IST

National parks and sanctuaries in Madhya Pradesh will close down for tourists on June 16 this year as against the usual date of June 30 — the day parks close every year for the monsoon season.

National parks and sanctuaries in Madhya Pradesh will close down for tourists on June 16 this year as against the usual date of June 30 — the day parks close every year for the monsoon season.

The-government-had-decided-to-alter-the-opening-and-closing-dates-of-national-parks-and-sanctuaries-in-the-state-to-facilitate-an-increase-in-tourist-arrivals-Neeraj-Santoshi-Hindustan-Times
The-government-had-decided-to-alter-the-opening-and-closing-dates-of-national-parks-and-sanctuaries-in-the-state-to-facilitate-an-increase-in-tourist-arrivals-Neeraj-Santoshi-Hindustan-Times

A few parts of the parks will be opened for entry on October 1 as against October 16 — the usual date for reopening parks every year.

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Tourists will have access to the entire tourism zone in national parks and sanctuaries only from October 16.

The state has nine national parks and 25 sanctuaries, including six tiger reserves.

The amended opening and closing dates will come into effect from 2015 itself and will be applicable to Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Satpura, Sanjay and Panna tiger reserves as well.

However, Van Vihar National Park in Bhopal and Madhav National Park in Shivpuri will continue to remain open for tourists throughout the year.

Sources said the state government had decided to alter the opening and closing dates of national parks and sanctuaries in the state to facilitate an increase in tourist arrivals.

The monsoon usually arrives in mid June in the eastern part of the state where most of the prominent national parks are located. Only a few tourists visit these parks in the last fortnight of June.

Moreover, Dussehra falls usually in the first half of October and tourists - especially from West Bengal and Maharashtra — do not have access to the national parks as they are usually closed till October 15.

Considering this, the state forest department was asked by the Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation to prepone the opening and the closing of the national parks in the state.

The forest department has given its consent to the proposal.

The wildlife wing of the forest department felt that parks should remain open during the first half of October when the state commemorates the Wildlife Week every year.

"On many occasions, parks had to be closed down in mid June owing to heavy rains even though the official period continued till June end. However, since rains sometimes continue till September end, the state government will open only a part of the tourism zone. The entire zone will be opened only after October 15," said chief conservator of forests, wildlife, CK Patil.

However, the earlier norm of keeping parks and sanctuaries closed for three-and -half-months in a year would remain unchanged, he added.

The changing of the opening and closing dates is likely to unsettle the plans of some tourists, who were planning to visit these parks in the latter part of June.

However, according to sources, the number of such tourists is not large.

Park facts

A few parts of the parks will be opened for entry on October 1 as against October 16 - the usual date for reopening parks every year

Tourists will have access to the entire tourism zone in national parks and sanctuaries only from October 16.

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