Similipal Tiger Reserve to be shut for two days ahead of President Murmu’s visit

All tourist and vehicular movement will be stopped at the two entry gates during the President’s visit on May 5

Updated on: May 3, 2023, 20:23:30 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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The Similipal Tiger Reserve in Mayurbhanj district will remain closed for tourists on Thursday and Friday in view of President Droupadi Murmu’s visit to the reserve during her three-day tour to Odisha.

Arrangements for the President’s stay have been made at the forest rest house in Chahala. (HT photo)

Regional chief conservator of forests (RCCF)-cum-field director of the tiger reserve, Prakash Chand Gogineni said all tourist and vehicular movement will be stopped at the two entry gates during the President’s visit on May 5.

“We have also curbed entry of tourists to the reserve on May 4 so that all arrangements are in place. Arrangements for the President’s stay have been made at the forest rest house in Chahala. She will also visit Barehipani waterfalls and other spots inside Similipal and. The President will spend around two and half hours inside the national park,” said Gogineni.

Also Read: Forest fire in Similipal National Park completely contained, says Odisha govt

This is Murmu’s first visit to her home district of Mayurbhanj after becoming President.

Though she would visit the core area of the tiger reserve, it is not certain whether she can see any of the Royal Bengal tigers of the reserve spread over 2,700 sq km area.

“It all boils down to luck when it comes to sighting tigers in Similipal. I am not sure if President can see any of the tigers,” said the RCCF of the reserve.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More