‘Bring hotel lobby to develop tourism in Sariska reserve’
Former chairman of highpower committee of tiger relocation and Punjab governor VP Singh has said hotel lobby has to be brought to the Sariska Tiger Reserve (STR) to develop and sustain the tiger population.
He expressed the view during a discussion conducted by Abhimanyu Singh and Sariska Tiger Foundation on Friday on the occasion of 10th anniversary of reintroduction of tigers in Sariska
He said, “Just like Ranthambore, hotel and resorts should be opened around Sariska Tiger Reserve. This will increase tourism and make STR economically viable. “The growth of hotel lobby tourism in STR will benefit the locals immensely. It will create job opportunity and economical activities can be carried out by locals. “Tourism will ultimately cause the villagers living in STR to protect tigers and get
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them engaged in tourism-related activities,” he said.
He said Ranthambore is facing excessive tourism pressure so development of STR into a tourist hotspot will benefit both the tiger reserves.
Singh was the head of the high-power committee in 2005, which recommended tiger conservation in STR, but his recommendation has not been implemented by the state government.
Chief wildlife warden GV Reddy stresses on the importance of saving other endangered animal like leopard and panthers also. He also declared that a radio collar will be attached to every single tiger in STR until the tiger population grows around 50.
Chief conservator of forests Rajesh Gupta suggested that a team of senior forest officials specialised in wildlife protection should be formed and their role should be formalised with a vision for next 10 years, for development of tiger reserves.