Saving Ranthambore

Rajasthan Govt has taken steps to demolish hotels being 'illegally' operated within the precincts of the sanctuary.

Our national sanctuaries are also grappling with an unauthorised structures problem. On Wednesday, the Rajasthan administration finally took effective steps to demolish hotels and structures being "illegally" operated within the precincts of the Ranthambore national sanctuary.

HT Image

Among the 20-odd structures razed for violation of land use under the Revenue Act were 'White House', a resort run by wildlife campaigner Fateh Singh Rathore's son Govardhan Singh Rathore.

Vishram Meena, additional district magistrate, Sawai Madhopur, told HT that out of the 32 such identified structures, about 20 had been demolished for violating sections 90-A and 90 of the Land Revenue Act.

He said these structures had been constructed on agricultural land and were being operated for commercial purposes -- all without obtaining the authorization for change in land use.

Also demolished were two showrooms (Anokhi, Karigar) on Fateh Singh's farmhouse, a Rajasthani showroom which had been inaugurated in November by Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, certain shops and dhabhas, and a hotel.

Fateh Singh Rathore said he had been made a target for having consistently "exposed" the failures of the state government in conserving tigers.

Meena said among the structures to be demolished on Thursday were five hotels. The proprietors of two hotels have filed an application in the high court for a stay against the demolitions.