The tour operator in the region has a jumbo allegation
against the forest department. Suresh Periwal, the chairman of the
Indian Association of Tour Operators (north Bengal and Sikkim chapter),
today said, `The tourists are disappointed due to the inadequate number
of elephants at Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary. The forest officials are also partial
to the tourists who stay at Hollong Bungalow.`
The allegation came against the department when the Government is
in the process to pull out all the stops to promote Dooars as the
ideal tourist gateway. Periwal also said that the forest department
has sent three elephants from Jaldapara to South Bengal and thus the
tourists are going back to their home with the disappointments that
they are unable to enjoy elephant safari. The tourists who stay outside
of the Hollong Bungalow are not even being considered for the elephant
safari that the department organizes. The elephant safari lasts for
one hour and it is conducted in two shifts in the morning. An elephant
carries around four persons