By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 11 Jul: A controversy had broken out after CM Dhami’s recent safari in Corbett Tiger Reserve’s Dhela Range in which a Gypsy without a fitness certificate was pressed into service. The issue had come to the fore after it surfaced that the vehicle had not received a fitness certificate over the past five years. Mohammed Umar, the driver involved, has now been suspended. In addition, Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal has ordered a probe into the whole incident.
Sources have claimed that the Gypsy, with registration number UK 19GA 0067, has all through been used for VIP safaris in the park, including those of judges of the High Court and the Supreme Court, even the governors of Uttarakhand, and successive chief ministers, without carrying the mandatory certification.
It may be pertinent to remind here that in the past, the Corbett Tiger Reserve has seen three directors in the last five years, including Rahul (who has been allegedly embroiled in the Pakhro range controversy regarding illegal felling of trees), Dheeraj Pandey and now Saket Badola.
Following the recent incident, the Corbett administration has launched an inquiry to determine driver Mohammed Umar’s role behind this lapse. Typically, the responsibility for government vehicle upkeep, including logbook maintenance and fitness certification, rests with both the driver and the designated storekeeper. It has come to light, however, that Umar was not the one driving the Gypsy during the Chief Minister’s visit, but the vehicle was driven by another driver, who claims to have been unaware of the vehicle’s certification status. In this case, Mohammed Umar is stated to have been the only individual aware of the vehicle’s fitness issues.
Allegations are that, during the safari, certain media personnel contacted Umar to ascertain the Chief Minister’s whereabouts. Umar allegedly responded that he had not entered the jungle that day.
According to the Transport Department, six-seater vehicles are exempt from mandatory fitness certificates, a rule which does not apply to eight-seaters, leading to further ambiguity in the present case. Now, whether this particular vehicle is a six-seater or eight-seater has not been disclosed by the Forest Department to the media.
Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal has ordered a comprehensive probe, directing the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) (HoFF) to initiate an investigation through the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife). Both the driver and the storekeeper have also been instructed to furnish their written explanations as part of the inquiry.
