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Vehicle entry fee likely at Sariska, Ranthambore

JAIPUR: The Sariska and Ranthambore Tiger Conservation Foundation has decided to introduce an entry fee on all the vehicles passing through the tiger reserve to generate income. The decision came at the first meeting of the governing body of the foundation held on Tuesday. The meeting was presided over by forest minister Ramlal Jat. 

Presently, devotees coming to the Pandupole temple on Tuesdays and Saturdays are given free entry into the park. However, it was decided that except the local vehicles (registered in Alwar district), all other vehicles would have to pay an entry fee from now onwards. 

It was also decided that in order to meet the administrative expenditure of the registration of the tourist vehicles and training of the nature guides, a 5% handling charges would be set apart from the payment of the vehicle owners and nature guides to the foundation. The meeting also decided that keeping 2008-09 as the base year, the foundation would receive 50% of the extra income generated from the park. Besides, the foundation would be eligible for grant or financial assistance from domestic and foreign organizations. This is apart from the financial grants and assistance from the state and Central governments. 

Jat appreciated the work of the boundary wall of the Ranthambore and Sariska carried out under the MNREGS and said permanent roads would also be constructed under the scheme in the area. He said the foundation was constituted to promote eco-tourism and bio- diversity and systematic and planned development. Jat said the foundation would work for the socio-economic development of the people of the area and would ensure that the local people as the stakeholders. This is an important aspect as so long as the local people are the stake-holders, they would care for the animals. Besides, he said the foundation has to find avenues for generating revenue for the upkeep and development of the area.