Green relief at hand

Calcutta, April 21: The Bengal environment department has directed all hotels, resorts and even tents for tourists within a kilometre of forest areas to take the state pollution control board’s permission to continue operations.

The directive follows a string of complaints of violation of environment norms against hotels and resorts — both government and private — near forest areas, particularly in north Bengal.

The directive will apply to all reserve forests and wildlife sanctuaries, both new and old.

Hotels and resorts inside forest areas will have to get a clearance from the forest department before approaching the pollution board.

According to the department’s notification, circulated to all district magistrates and superintendents of police, the pollution board will consult the tourism department before giving its nod to applications within a month of their submission.

The complaints, mostly received from NGOs, include infringement on corridors for wild animals, irregular dumping of waste and growing traffic.

“These have been happening everywhere, more so in north Bengal where mushrooming eco-tourism units have been infringing on the corridors for wild animals like elephants and bison,” said Lt Col S.R. Banerjee, a former member of the state wildlife board.

Tourism minister Manab Mukherjee said his department would co-operate with the environment department. “Tourism will grow but only after following environment and forest norms,” he said.