KATHMANDU: The Advocacy Unit of Nepal Forum of Environmental Journalists (NEFEJ) on Friday, July 31, 2009, conducted an interaction session on whether or not to allow resorts within the Chitwan National Park.

The event which had the participation of conservationists, administrators and journalists saw heated debate for and against the concept of allowing such resorts within the protected areas. 

The interaction kicked off with NEFEJ Secretary Abdullah Miya presenting a paper on "Should we allow resorts in Chitwan National Park?" which drew mixed reaction from those running such resorts to those opposing such an idea.

Deputy Director General of Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Megh Bahadur Pandey and spokesperson of the same department Shiv Raj Bhatta had come up with the official position which only allowed "tented camps and no more" inside the protected area in question.

Wildlife expert Dr Shanta Raj Gyawali was of the view that the resorts were indeed having adverse impact on wildlife habitat and that the infrastructure built over the years going back to 1960s should be removed.

The issue has become greatly convoluted with Uday Raj Sharma, Secretary, Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation, against the idea of allowing the resorts to continue ahead while Minister Deepak Bohara tending to back the resorts.

There are seven resorts within the periphery of the protected area which have shut down since July 16, the day their contract expired, with the bid to have them renewed catching fire.

Significantly, conservationists have claimed that they could spot any tigers within the 2 km periphery of the seven resorts, thus substantiating the claim that the resorts were scaring away wildlife.

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