Bhushan Parimoo
Winding up the discussion, on the Budget for Forest, Ecology and Environment for the year 2016-17, the Minister Ch Lal Singh said the government was making a comprehensive plan for promotion of Eco-tourism. He assured that the state would soon be on the map of the Wildlife Eco-tourism destination of the country.
The fresh promise made by the Minister is not new one. Wildlife Eco-Tourism horse has been repeatedly promised since September 2007 to ride on but remained a wild dream so for Wildlife Protection Departments functioning goes. Their track record shows that it only protects its own interest in place of the Wildlife.
A tentative amount of rupees 2 crores has already been drained since January 2009 till date in the name of Eco-Tourism formulation in shape of salaries, tours, petrol, subsidies, accommodation and other expenses at the disposal of Chief Conservator Forest, Wildlife Eco-Tourism.
A renowned author Bob Hope once commented on the ‘Administrative apparatus management,' ‘Give a job, an incumbent will create work for himself.' He may pretend to be busy and do nothing. Such is the unfortunate fate with the Eco-Tourism under Wildlife in the state. During mid-autumn in 2007, warmth-laden news whiffed through in a National daily that cheered the spirit who read or heard it. A plan to promote Wildlife Eco-tourism in the state had been conceived.
The news raised a hope putting wings and flights to wild imagination. Opening of such avenues has also raised expectations among the nomads of incremental income at their very door steps without compromising their traditional culture or way of life while preserving, promoting eco-scenario in its totality.
An understanding was reached for Eco-Tourism project with a company ‘Jungle Lodges and Resorts' to replicate Karnataka model to improve Eco-tourism here in the state and to help to harvest optimum level out of Eco-tourism potential the Nature provided in the state but so far ignored altogether.
‘Jungle Lodges and Resorts' was asked to explore eco-tourism potential, facilitate eco-tourism development, to prepare plans for Eco-tourism infrastructure and Eco-lodge management. The company would provide special training to the locals, who in turn would work as tourist guides and resort-operators thus generate new employment opportunities in the state. The resorts would be environmental friendly that would take care of all environmental related issues. Vehicles would be battery-operated, no polythene or littering would be allowed. The body would also assist in marketing, management and development of organisational infrastructure for Eco-tourism in Jammu and Kashmir.
Sh A. K. Srivastava IFS borne on state cadre had fairly intimate knowledge of its forest and habitants living within, their traditions and how to keep balance represented the state so there was little margin of error in formulating the project. Details in depth deliberation continued till December 2007. Deal was almost arrived at and it was made public. Leading a leading regional Tribune in its edition of 27th December carried an interview of Sh A. K. Srivastava, the state Chief Wildlife Warden wherein it was revealed the state would soon be on the map of the Wildlife Eco-tourism destination of the country as J&K Wildlife Department in coloration with the Jungle Lodges and Resorts is planning to convert sanctuaries and wetlands in the state into eco-tourism resorts.
A team from the company did visit the state conducted a survey and identified some wildlife sanctuaries and wetland and lakes to be developed in the first place. A few from Jammu and a few from Kashmir were zeroed in under the programme for ecotourism. After dormancy of two years, Ecotourism Society of India (ESOI) held conferences at Jammu and at Srinagar during 2011-12. Nothing came out of this exercise and nothing heard thereafter till a post for Eco-Tourism was created by the government in 2009 of the rank of Chief Conservator of Forest in the Wildlife Department whose jurisdiction shall, as term of reference, revealed confined to wildlife.
Assignment of duties defined for the Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) Eco-Tourism shall be a part of Wildlife Protection Department till further orders. The terms said, “He shall look after all the activities related to the Eco-Tourism, which included finalization of Comprehensive Management Plan for the promotion of Eco-Tourism in some selected National Parks, Sanctuaries and Wetlands of the state. Coordination with the State Tourism Department/Ministry of Tourism Government of India and also with the financial institutions for creating facilities for Eco-Tourism, visits to the institutions /states involved in the promotion of Eco-Tourism to study various models on the subject viz-a-viz application in the state, monitoring Central Sponsored Schemes relating to Eco –Tourism for which the conservation of Forests( Wildlife) shall provide necessary inputs to him besides many functions pertaining to the development of Eco-tourism in the state.
Mr. Deepak Khanna was first incumbent to hold the post. He remained till he was elevated as J&K Chief Wildlife Warden, equivalent to the rank of Principal Chief Conservator of Forest. Next came Sh O P Sharma known for Tree Talk.
After him Suresh Sharma, P. K. Singh and there after the present incumbent A. K. Gupta holds the post for Eco-Tourism in addition to his being Regional Wildlife Warden Jammu. Interestingly, the post of Ecotourism moves with civil secretariat to Srinagar for six months, but the one that of Regional Warden is a non-move office. That shows how casually the Eco-tourism project, an independent and dedicated programme, is taken by the Forest Department as what appears that the post of Eco-tourism, was just a ploy to accommodate another officer from IFS fraternity nothing else.
As evident from the order of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests on 24-11-2009 wherein Chief Conservator Forests, Eco –Tourism will also function as Chief Conservator (Head Office/Wild Life) in the office of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests. He will dispose of all matters/ correspondence of routine nature. He will also look after Finance, Plan, Establishment, Legal/Court cases etc besides Eco-tourism. Both the orders when pursed minutely spill the beans of intent in it that seems to elevate one of cadre member in the name of development of Eco-Tourism in the state.
The Eco-tourism project has been reduced mere a clerical and file pushing job that could be carried by an Office-Superintendent. What has happened so far in this direction in J&K reminds of often quoted Indian Juggler, who mesmerized public by handling lot of balls in air at the same time.
All said and done the Eco-tourism offers limitless opportunities in Wildlife tourism such wild photography, jungle safari, wilderness walks, hike, camping, backpack and horse pack program, adventures sports, nature study tourism which includes Flora and Fauna, rafting and rock climbing etc. We for this time Eco-tourism horse will be made ready for ride.
(Bhushan Parimoo is a Jammu based environmentalist who can be contacted at <blparimoo@gmail.com>)
