Rajasthan
Netflix: At leopard conservation site, roar of tourism is muted by mining, neglect | Jaipur News
A galaxy of Bollywood actors such as Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif have visited Jawai Leopard Conservation Reserve in Pali district for vacation in recent months. While these star-studded visits have ratcheted up tourism activities at the site, lack of proper facilities, continuance of illegal mining in the forests here, and governmental neglect have together held back the high tourism potential of the site 13 years after it was declared a leopard reserve.
As another assembly poll crawls close, the residents of Jawai Bandh area and the gypsy owners say tall promises about tourism activities boosting the local economy still remain on paper. There have been barely any improvement made on the ground to save the wildlife and add to the tourism potential, they say.
A 19.79-sq km area near Jawai Bandh was given the status of Jawai Leopard Conservation Reserve by the state government on February 23, 2010. As per the tourism department’s records, over 40 resorts and homestays have sprung up around the reserve in the last five years.
Despite a steady rise in tourist footfall, gypsy owners’ associations say that routes for safaris have not been finalised, and there is no check on illegal mining taking place near the reserve.
“Illegal mining is rampant in the forests here. Wildlife is not easily visible due to such activities. The tourists are disappointed if they cannot spot animals during a safari, and the reserve gets a bad name,” said Uday Singh, 21, a gypsy driver at Jawai. “With the place emerging as a preferred vacation spot for Bollywood stars, we hope the authorities will show seriousness about these issues,” he added. Gypsies being the favourite vehicle for tourists on safari, the area has around 100 gypsies that depend on tourism.
In September, residents of several villages wrote to the administration, seeking cancellation of mining licences. “Hotels and homestays are rising here, but they are also the ones encroaching on the protected land. I have seen the leopard population declining here in the past 25 years,” said Gaffar Khan, a local tour operator.
As another assembly poll crawls close, the residents of Jawai Bandh area and the gypsy owners say tall promises about tourism activities boosting the local economy still remain on paper. There have been barely any improvement made on the ground to save the wildlife and add to the tourism potential, they say.
A 19.79-sq km area near Jawai Bandh was given the status of Jawai Leopard Conservation Reserve by the state government on February 23, 2010. As per the tourism department’s records, over 40 resorts and homestays have sprung up around the reserve in the last five years.
Despite a steady rise in tourist footfall, gypsy owners’ associations say that routes for safaris have not been finalised, and there is no check on illegal mining taking place near the reserve.
“Illegal mining is rampant in the forests here. Wildlife is not easily visible due to such activities. The tourists are disappointed if they cannot spot animals during a safari, and the reserve gets a bad name,” said Uday Singh, 21, a gypsy driver at Jawai. “With the place emerging as a preferred vacation spot for Bollywood stars, we hope the authorities will show seriousness about these issues,” he added. Gypsies being the favourite vehicle for tourists on safari, the area has around 100 gypsies that depend on tourism.
In September, residents of several villages wrote to the administration, seeking cancellation of mining licences. “Hotels and homestays are rising here, but they are also the ones encroaching on the protected land. I have seen the leopard population declining here in the past 25 years,” said Gaffar Khan, a local tour operator.
