2 suspended in min son’s wedding at temple in Rajaji case

Dehradun: Two officials of the forest department - a beat officer and barrier person at forest checkpost -- of Haridwar range of the Rajaji Tiger Reserve (RTR) were suspended on Wednesday, said Koko Rose, the director of Rajaji Tiger Reserve. A row erupted on the weekend after preparations for wedding of Uttarakhand cabinet minister Khajan Das’s son were carried out inside the RTR’s core zone at Sureshwar Devi temple. It was alleged that the preparations were made without formal nod from forest authorities, raising concerns over “violations of forest and wildlife norms”.

The action was initiated based on preliminary information that indicated “negligence at work”. A final conclusive report about the entire incident is yet to be submitted.

On Saturday, materials for a large setup – a pandal, stage, coolers and generators – were taken into the reserve area, raising red flags, given that area is an ecologically sensitive zone. As the issue escalated, the forest dept registered a case against the temple committee under provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, for alleged violation.

The wedding was organised the following day sans any major decor thereafter.

RTR director Koko Rose said, “Investigation in this matter is underway, final action will be initiated based on the report.”
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