Trekking club held illegal excursions

The blame game is on over the Kurangani fire tragedy. The truth may lie somewhere in the middle as both parties are equally culpable for the tragedy, admitted a highly placed official source privy to the investigation.

“And for this reason, a local forester is placed under suspension and departmental inquiry against a few others is on. But, at the same time, the Chennai Trekking Club had organised a series of illegal treks in the recent past and we are collating details of all the illegal activities of the club and there are also cases in which CTC has been also punished by foresters of neighbouring states,” the official told DC.

A confidential internal CTC mail available with DC, shared by one of the former members, had revealed that the CTC founder Peter Van Geit, a Belgian national settled in India, had organised several treks without forest department permission.

According to the confidential mails available with DC and dating back to November 18, 2010 (7:16 PM) “Peter wrote to the participants of Chennai trekking club – due to circumstances I was unable to obtain permission from the forest department for this mission. No big deal – I have not taken permission for any of my ten past DOAs. Just remember that in case of the very minimal chance that we get caught all of us might have to pay up 1K fine (per head). I assume that it is okay with you guys. The forest officials simply made it too hard this time”.

A confidential internal mail of the Chennai Trekking Club, shared by one of the former members, had revealed that the CTC founder Peter Van Geit, a Belgian national settled in India, had organised several treks without forest department permission.