Nilgiris forest department awaits govt nod for new trekking route

  • | Friday | 21st September, 2018

As far as rest houses in the forest areas in the Nilgiris and Gudalur divisions are concerned, they are solely meant for forest officials,”Tourist attractions such as Doddabetta peak and Avalanche are located within reserve forest areas. “After the forest fire incident in Kurangani hills in Theni district, wherein over 20 trekkers died, a newly drafted route map for trekking in the Nilgiris has been sent to the government for approval,” the official said. Besides the requirement of the forest officials, if there are rest houses vacant during a period, the public will be permitted to utilize the facility but on strict conditions that they should not use plastics, tease the animals and feed the animals, said the field director. “But the tourist traffic to these two locations are always regulated. “We are awaiting approval from the government.

Udhagamandalam: In the wake of a Madras high court order declaring the Nilgiris forest a no-go zone, forest officials say natural lovers and students on educational purposes will be permitted after the sanction for the specific route (trekking) is received from the government.The court’s direction was issued in connection with a case related to the 140-year Nilgiri Wildlife Environmental Association (NWEA), which had been maintain and operating ‘Mukurthi Fishing Hut’ located in a critical area in the Mukurthi National Park in the Nilgiris.The association was shut by Nilgiris collector Innocent Divya on Wednesday.According to a senior forest official, there is no trekking activities taking place in the two divisions (Nilgiri and Gudalur) of the Nilgiri forest area. “After the forest fire incident in Kurangani hills in Theni district, wherein over 20 trekkers died, a newly drafted route map for trekking in the Nilgiris has been sent to the government for approval,” the official said. “We are awaiting approval from the government. As far as rest houses in the forest areas in the Nilgiris and Gudalur divisions are concerned, they are solely meant for forest officials,”Tourist attractions such as Doddabetta peak and Avalanche are located within reserve forest areas. “But the tourist traffic to these two locations are always regulated. In those two cases, there is no pressure on the pristine forest,” said the forest official.Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) field director Ulaganathan said jungle rides by vans and elephants in MTR will not be disturbed as it is being operated as per the guidelines of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).The rest houses in MTR are mainly utilized for official purposes. Besides the requirement of the forest officials, if there are rest houses vacant during a period, the public will be permitted to utilize the facility but on strict conditions that they should not use plastics, tease the animals and feed the animals, said the field director.

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