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Alipurduar: The forest department has decided to ban diesel-run vehicles and plastic bags inside Gorumara National Park. Around 1,000 visitors on an average a day tour the park either in hired cars or their own vehicles. According to foresters, petrol-driven cars will be introduced to ferry tourists when the national park reopens for visitors on September 16. The park will remain closed for monsoons from June 15 to September 15. Plastic packets will also not be allowed inside the park after September 15 and tourists carrying them would be fined. Paper bags, made by eco-development committees, would be sold at the entrance to the park for visitors to carry their belongings The forest department had recently issued a notification, which said those interested in running petrol cars should submit a proposal to the foresters. It was also mentioned that members of the eco - development committees would get preference in this regard. The new cars will be able to accommodate six persons. According to foresters, after the petrol run cars are introduced, the number of vehicles playing inside the park will be reduced. Private vehicles will not be allowed inside. Few years ego, petrol-driven cars had been introduced in Jaldapara Wild Life Sanctuary. Each of the six cars, purchased by members of eco-development committees, run to tips daily and each tourist has to pay Rs 175. This model will not be followed in Gorumara. Kamal Bhowmik, the secretary of Resort Owners’ Association in Lataguri, said running such cars might be helpful in controlling pollution in the area, but it has a flip side too.

“The divisional forest officer of wildlife II (Sumita Ghatak) held a meeting with us where she mentioned about the new cars. We have told them about the positive and negative sides of running them. At least 1,000 visitors come to Gorumara everyday. How many cars have to be bought them? When it is a matter of environment, then we have nothing to say. But some of the private car owners, who are running the vehicles in the park now, will lost their livelihood once the new cars are introduced he said.

Tickets are as usual is issued only to Guest. Hence forest safari depends on the availability of ticket on the particular day of visit.                              

Posted on: 31 Jan, 2011

Tags: Gorumara, Jaldapara, Chapramari, Dooars
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