By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 9 Aug: Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj has declared two treks in the state as Treks of the Year. However, this announcement had resulted in a disagreement with Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal. The difference of opinion has come out in the open now. Uniyal has expressed his reservations on the declaration of the two treks as Treks of the Year on the ground that both fall under forest sanctuary area and therefore access to them is restricted. These treks are Saru Taal in District Uttarkashi and Sinnalla Pass Trek located in district Pithoragarh. The State Tourism Department has proposed various tourism activities on these two routes between 2 September and 30 November this year.
Ironically, both these routes fall under protected forest sanctuaries, and they do not give open access for the trekkers. No one is allowed to proceed on these two treks without the permission of the State Forest Department under the present rules. However, sources in the forest department have claimed that Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj has announced the treks as Treks of the Year, without taking Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal into confidence nor there was any discussion held between the officials of the Tourism and the Forest departments in this regard.
Speaking to Garhwal Post, Subodh Uniyal added that he wholeheartedly respects senior Minister Satpal Maharaj. While Maharaj may have taken the decision to declare Saru Taal and the Sannila Pass as Treks of the Year for some good reason, the problem is that tourism activities are not allowed as per the existing rules in these reserved forest areas. Uniyal refrained from calling the Tourism Minister’s decision as inappropriate but has raised the issue of tourism activities in these areas.
Uniyal reminded that the carrying capacity of these trekking routes which fall under reserved forests is decided by the Forest Department. Also, no activity is permitted in the areas concerned without permission or approval of the state forest department.
On the other hand, Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj has sought to advise Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal on these issues by citing the example of the neighbouring state of Himachal Pradesh. He claimed that in Himachal Pradesh, permission for trekking in forest areas is easily granted by the Forest Department whereas, in Uttarakhand, the forest department does not easily grant approval for such activities. He also reminded that even if these two treks are declared treks of the year, the trekkers and the tourists will only pass through this area and not stay there. He urged the Forest Department to agree to his decision and accord permission for trekking on these two routes.
While there is always a need to maintain an optimum balance between environment and commercial activities or tourism, it remains a fact that environment in Uttarakhand has been a very sensitive matter. Here not only the environmentalists but also the High Court and the Supreme Court have kept a close eye and, very easily, environmentalists launch agitations as compared to Himachal Pradesh. On the other hand, with trekking becoming an attractive tourist activity in Uttarakhand, a big market for it has been created in the state and it has become an important source of employment generation in the hills and has begun to yield significant amount of revenue for the state, with more trekkers from across the country and even across the globe coming here. Those in the trade feel that the strict rules of the Forest Department discourage this new market that gives employment and revenue to the state.
It remains to be seen who relents on the issue and whether these two restricted trekking routes will be still declared as treks of the year and permission granted for unrestricted trekking, or environmental concerns will have the upper hand.
