Pench Tiger Reserve suspends 15 guides for violating tourism norms

Nagpur: Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR), Maharashtra, suspended 15 guides and safari vehicle drivers for contravening tourism protocols, particularly during the visit of principal secretary (forest).Assistant conservator of forest Pooja Limbgaonkar issued the directive to suspend guides and drivers stating therein that they failed to maintain a 50-metre distance between vehicles and disturbed the wildlife by creating a disturbance.Furthermore, the offenders impeded the natural movement of wildlife whilst crossing the road and lingered excessively at one location, resulting in a congregation in a single area, she said.Limbgaonkar instructed the range forest officer (RFO) to suspend the guides and drivers for three safaris. However, following negotiations between guides' union and forest officials on Wednesday in the city, the penalty was reduced to suspension for one safari.The transgression occurred on November 22 at Sillari gate in east Pench range during morning safari, whilst the suspension order was issued on November 25. Sources said tourist vehicles crowded the location when a tiger was spotted at Totladoh dam."In an endeavour to catch a glimpse of the tiger, which was 100 metres away, several vehicles were stationed chaotically. There was considerable commotion and forest officials could not sight the tiger, consequently guides and drivers faced punitive action," alleged Nilesh Mendhe, secretary, Sanctuary Guides Employees Sangh, Maharashtra.Mendhe said, "Nowhere in the country do wildlife parks follow 50-metre distance between two vehicles rule. The park action is arbitrary. Overcrowding is common when a tiger is sighted, and forest officials are also no exception to this," said Mendhe.However, Prabhu Nath Shukla, deputy director, PTR, refuted claims that the action against guides and drivers was vindictive. "These 15 vehicles obstructed tiger movement and congregated at one spot. We have reduced the suspension to one safari," he said.