Govt suspends collecting forest tourism entry fee after CM prod
Times of India | 24 January 2025
123 Darjeeling/Jalpaiguri: A day after CM Mamata Banerjee criticised forest department for imposing fees on tourists at the entry of national parks, the forest department on Thursday suspended collection of entry fee at the gates of all protected areas, including Sandakphu — the highest point in Bengal — with immediate effect till further order.
Ranger, south range of Singalila National Park, Roshan Rai, said they received orders not to take forest fee from Thursday. " The entry to Singalila National Park for Indians is Rs 200 per person, while for foreign tourists, it's Rs 500. The charge for one vehicle is Rs 480. We did not charge anyone today," said Pradhan.
Banerjee on Wednesday said the department acted on its own. "Many students come to Buxa for nature expeditions, and picnickers also visit the forest. Charging them to enter the spots is inhuman. Ordinary people will blame us," the CM had said on Wednesday.
Suprotim Dutta, a Salt Lake resident, is among a group of five tourists from Kolkata leaving for Sandakphu on Friday. He said, "It is a great move as it will benefit the tourists in terms of cost-cutting. We are grateful to the chief minister."
A source said the entry fee part of the total fee in Buxa was miniscule — Rs 180. "Of the govt receipts for tourist and transport entry and photography fees and such activities related to ecotourism in protected areas, 40% share belonged to joint forest management committees. Thus, the dept supported local forest dwelling and forest fringe communities to protect forests and shared the benefits from forests with them. If this fund stops, it may have long-term implications," said a source.
Singalila Land Rovers' Owners Association (SLROA) expressed gratitude to the CM as the issue was much debated.