Dear Editor,
Four of us had planned a trail to Tusli today morning. For the same, I had spoken to Mr.Munde (Director of SGNP) & permission was granted to us. In fact everything was done over the phone as he was travelling & there was no way I could get his written permission. The guards at the gate as well as Tulsi phata were informed so that we would face no problems.
However two of my friends dropped out today morning due to forecast of heavy rain and it was then only Kalpana Malani and me. Since we had no vehicle, Tulsi was out and we decided to just walk along the main road.
Right since the time we entered the park, we encountered local people carrying bagfuls of crabs which they had obviously picked up inside the park. When we reached the Silonda barrier we saw families, students and others going in and out. We too decided to take the trail as no board said one needed written permission & there were so many people moving in and out.
As we went in, the number of crab collectors we came across was too many to remember the count. After some walk we sat down near a waterhole as there was lot of birding activity happening there. After an hour a forest office came on a bike & started questioning us. Why are you here, how did you come in, show me your card, show me a written permission, is the vehicle outside yours etc. I asked his name but he refused to reveal. I told him about my talk with Mr Munde. I also told him to go further ahead and question the many family groups, students and crab collectors for the requisite permission on the same lines as he was questioning me. After this he called up someone and I heard him yelling at the person. I couldn't hear the entire conversation though.
As we went in, the number of crab collectors we came across was too many to remember the count. After some walk we sat down near a waterhole as there was lot of birding activity happening there. After an hour a forest office came on a bike & started questioning us. Why are you here, how did you come in, show me your card, show me a written permission, is the vehicle outside yours etc. I asked his name but he refused to reveal. I told him about my talk with Mr Munde. I also told him to go further ahead and question the many family groups, students and crab collectors for the requisite permission on the same lines as he was questioning me. After this he called up someone and I heard him yelling at the person. I couldn't hear the entire conversation though.
Of course, he was totally blind to the numerous other people on the trail and we were questioned only because we had a binocs and camera & weren't making any noise or doing any illegal activity inside. After this he left but without confronting any of the other people on the trail.
During our return we saw kids with catapults and sickles on the trail. As I confronted them and asked them to hand over their tools, they told me I could do what I wanted but nobody would touch them as they were locals. When I tried to take their picture, they ran off. We did report the matter to the Forest Dept (FD) but I am not sure anything would be done as there were at least 10-15 people catching crabs right at the lake which is at a stone's throw from the office.
I am not sure if people in senior positions like Mr.Munde or Mr. Thorat (Chief Conservator of forests) are aware of the high-handedness with which their officials behave with nature lovers who are actually the eyes of the park. I think nobody dares touch the morning walkers because they are a strong lobby due to their sheer united numbers. We nature lovers are in good numbers too, but haven't taken an initiative to present our case to the FD. I am not suggesting a confrontation or fight with the FD; rather we need to sit across and talk things out to arrive at a solution. But to be taken seriously, we need numbers. Why can't we too have cards like the morning walkers so that we don't have to worry about the officials? Why can't we go in early like morning walkers do? Also the FD rules which ask to request for permission at least 3-5 days in advance over email, but the permission won't be given over email. We need to personally go to the SGNP office & collect it. Is it not cumbersome? Somebody who is working or staying far can't come down all the way just to collect permission. Why can't permission be sent over email?
If such issues have to be sorted out we need to talk things over. I am willing to take lead on the matter or if anyone else wants to lead he/she is more than welcome. But one person can't do it alone. We need to be seen as friends of SGNP by the FD & considered a force to reckon with & work together with. We can meet the FD on a Saturday so that it is convenient to working people. But we need numbers. I would like to know how many of you can be counted on for help? Remember, we don't want an argument or fight with the FD but to join hands & get what is rightfully deserved to us. A request- Please respond on the egroups rather than a personal mail to me. It doesn't help to hear from anyone on a one-to-one basis. We need to be publicly united for a cause I am sure is close to all our hearts. I got away today because I had phone numbers of the 'right people'- but not all birders may be lucky on any given day.
There needs to be system in place to help us all. I count on the nature lover's community for help. I hope I wont be let down..........it's not just for me but for all of us.