Tourists & Locals taken for a ride
D J Venkatesh
Diglipur, Oct 07: Ross & Smith Islands, internationally acclaimed tourist spot, located in Diglipur Island, has a world class beach, which connects both the Islands in low tide.
But hardly anyone knows that the Ross Island falls under Sanctuary but one part of the Smith Islands, falls under reserve forest while another part is Revenue land, where more than 300 people live.
It seems that the Forest department is illegally and dishonestly collecting entry fees of Rs.50/- from locals and Rs. 500/- from foreigners who are interested in going to Smith Island beach and not interested in Ross Island. Both the Islands are connected only during high tide with a sand bar but during low tide both the Islands remain disconnected.
Smith Island is having a big sandy white beach and for this reason most of the visitors are interested only in Smith Island and 99 percent visitor never enter inside Ross Island. Tourists visiting Ross and Smith often walk on the sandy beach which is a part of Smith Island too. Tourist Boats also drop the tourists only at Smith Island and not in Ross Island.
Boats are also liable to pay Rs. 10,000/- for up to 10 passengers and Rs. 50,000/- for more than 10 passengers annually.
An entrance permit is issued at Aerial bay Jetty by Wild life officials, which clearly mentions that the entry fee is charged only for ‘Transaction of lawful business’ and ‘Tourism’.
A delegation of DARTED on 29th September met the PCCF, who was on a visit Diglipur. “In Smith Island it is clear that there is no question for charging fees but one should take permission to go to the Smith Island as it falls under reserve forest. At the same time the DFO should ensure that nobody should go to the Ross Island. Regarding boats, if there is no regulation on number of boats tomorrow 10s of boats will come therefore we are regulating the boats by charging the fees. Entry inside Smith Island, without permission, is violation of Forest rules. DFO is responsible for at what extent tourism can be allowed and in which areas,” the PCCF told DARTED delegation.
When tourists do not enter Ross Island and Smith Island is a Reserve Forest then it is not clear why the Forest Department is still collecting Rs. 50 from Islanders and Rs. 500 from foreigners.
When DARTED contacted the Assistant Commissioner of Diglipur with the RTI replies regarding Ross, he admitted that this is a clear cut case of unlawful charging by the Forest department.
“We will issue a circular to all the concerned about this and place a display board at Aerial bay that it is free of charge to go to Smith Island. Just permission in form of Application is required to go the Smith Island,” the Assistant Commissioner said.
Hope the Forest Department will soon realise that till now the Department has been charging fees from visitors unlawfully and soon stop charging money from visitors of Ross and Smith Island, which in turn will also help in promoting Diglipur Tourism.
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