Summary:
This had led to protests by Gypsy owners who had claimed that their livelihood would be threatened due to the curbs on entry of private vehicles into the reserve. Nainital: The Uttarakhand high court (HC) on Friday allowed entry of 32 private commercial vehicles each in Jhirna and Bijrani zones of Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) daily for day safaris in addition to 120 vehicles in a day that were allowed in six zones of the reserve after a plea by Gypsy owners and the state government sought easing of restrictions. The bench further allowed plying of 15 private Gypsies/commercial Gypsies in the Durga Devi zone.Last month, the court had limited the total number of vehicles that can enter six zones of Corbett - Sitabani, Vikram, Dhikala, Dhela, Kalagarh and Durga Devi - to 120 in a day. The Gypsy owners’ association and the state government had thereafter submitted a plea seeking relaxation of norms.The division bench of acting chief justice Rajiv Sharma and justice Lok Pal Singh stated that the court was “modifying its previous order to permit 32 private Gypsies/commercial Gypsies each per day in Jhirna and Bijrani zones.”Hari Singh Mann, president of the Corbett Hotels and Resorts Association, said, “We are thankful to the court for listening to grievances of people who earn their livelihood through tourism in CTR.”.