(a) whether foreigners have illegally occupied some places in Rajaji National Park at
Rishikesh;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the action taken by the Government in this regard?
(a) whether foreigners have illegally occupied some places in Rajaji National Park at
Rishikesh;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the action taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI JAIRAM RAMESH)
(a)&(b) Yes Sir. As per information received from the Government of Uttarakhand, around 300
foreigners of different nationalities entered Rajaji National Park inadvertently during the
Kumbh Mela 2010 and tried to establish temporary camps. These pilgrims were unaware that
entering and camping inside a National Park is prohibited under the law of the country and
when facts were made to known to them, they voluntarily vacated the Park area.
(c) The action taken by the State Government in this regard is as follows:
i. The foreigners were informed about the violation of the Wildlife(Protection) Act, 1972 by
trying to camp in the park.
ii. Intensive patrolling of vulnerable areas in the park was conducted to stop recurrence
of such incidents during the Maha Kumbh at Haridwar.
iii. The foreigners were also allotted 20000 sq.ft. camping ground in the Kumbh area in
Haridwar for setting up their camps.