Bengal’s two tiger reserves, Sunderban and Buxa, will remain closed every Tuesday from next month.
Debal Ray, the chief wildlife warden of the state, issued a directive in this regard, citing weekly closures in both these reserves located in South 24-Parganas and Alipurduar districts.
In his order, Roy said that so far, the Sunderban Tiger Reserve and Buxa Tiger Reserve so far had remained open on all seven days of the week. Every day, tourists visit both the reserve forest areas, take car safaris and avail of boat rides and other facilities to catch a glimpse of wildlife.
“However, from April 1, these two will remain closed once a week. It will help in the long-term sustainability and well-being of tiger reserves. On Tuesday, routine maintenance jobs can be carried out in these areas,” said a senior forest official.
Sources said that recently the National Tiger Conservation Authority wrote to the Bengal forest department, stating a weekly closure is practised in all other protected areas across India. Hence, the department also issued the weekly-closure order for these two tiger reserves.
Apurba Sen, the field director of the BTR, said: “There will be no car safari on Tuesdays. Visitors cannot walk up to the Buxa hill, located within the reserve, on Tuesdays. However, there will be no curbs for forest villagers and residents of Buxa hill.”
Those associated with tourism in north Bengal have welcomed the decision from an ecological standpoint. But they have also said that owing to a number of private accommodations located in the BTR area, tourists should be allowed to reach their accommodations or leave them on Tuesdays if they happen to arrive on that day.
“There is no question of car safaris or treks on Tuesdays. But if anybody arrives or wants to leave on Tuesday, the forest department should allow him to reach or leave the resort or accommodation concerned,” said Manab Bakshi, the secretary of the Alipurduar District Tourism Association.
Additional reporting by Snehamoy Chakraborty in Calcutta