Bhopal: Court Takes Cognisance On Resort Built In Eco-Sensitive Zone, Pench Tiger Reserve

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): ADJ court, Chaurai, Chhindwara district has taken cognisance over the resort, which was run in Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) within core area 308 metre and 100 metre from the water reservoir of Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) as it violated notification of ESZ provision, November 2019. The resort was run by Dr Sayed Azhar Ali. Captain Brijesh Bharadwaj had lodged complaint to the district administration stating the resort was run from 2021.

Field director PRT informed divisional commissioner, Jabalpur that on the basis of SDM (Chaurai), Chhindwara district, it was found that the resort was at 308 metre of core area and in limit of 100 metre of water reservoir in Jamtara, PTR, Seoni.

SDM Chaurai and forest department officials had warned owner Sayed Azhar Ali not to operate the resort till the local advisory committee (LAC) approves it on July 28,2021. Despite that, the construction work went on. Caretakers Mukesh and Sakin Bari too were informed about the illegal construction.

Captain Brijesh Bharadwaj informed Free Press, ‘I had complained to the district administration, Chhindwara, PCCF (Bhopal) and National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). My first complaint was in 2021 and I repeatedly complained after that. Then, the district administration as well as the divisional commissioner, Jabalpur took action.’

Resort owner Sayed Azhar Ali said, ‘It is not actually a resort as my application is pending at LAC since 2021. It is a farmhouse which is registered with MP Tourism. It is a revenue and not forest land with NOC obtained from the district panchayat. Revenue and forest provisions are very complicated. It may be that my farmhouse is in ESZ but it is not forest land.’