BHUBANESWAR: In a bid to give a push to eco-tourism and local livelihoods, the state government is set to introduce regulated trekking inside forests, wildlife sanctuaries and national parks.
PCCF (wildlife) and chief wildlife warden Prem Kumar Jha told TNIE that the project will be implemented through Ecotour Odisha and allow trekking only within designated tourism zones without compromising the ecological integrity of core and sanctuary areas.
“The proposed framework for trekking places strong emphasis on safety, environmental protection and community participation. The initiative will strengthen conservation awareness while creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for forest-dependent communities with minimal disturbance to natural ecosystems,” he said.
The Forest department has started the process to empanel eligible agencies, tour operators, adventure tourism companies, organisations and community-based enterprises to operate guided trekking services on approved routes in protected forest landscapes and eco-tourism destinations.
Trekking routes will be categorised as Easy, Moderate, Tough and Specialised based on ecological sensitivity, terrain and carrying capacity. Group size, trekking timings and seasonal restrictions will also be specified in trek permits and approved by the authorities concerned.
Participants will have to remain on designated trails, avoid disturbing wildlife, maintain a minimum distance of 50 metre from animals and refrain from loud music, flash photography or feeding wildlife. Collection of plants, forest produce or other natural specimens will be prohibited and trekkers will also have to respect tribal customs and seek permission before photographing the local people. Smoking, alcohol consumption, firearms, hunting, trapping, research and commercial filming without prior approval have also been restricted.
The safety protocols require agencies to carry comprehensive first-aid kits, GPS devices, satellite phones or walkie-talkies, rescue equipment, emergency shelters and weather monitoring devices.
The Wildlife Wing has proposed stringent penalties for violations. Organising treks without permission will attract a penalty of Rs 10,000 per participant on the empanelled agency besides action under the Wildlife Protection Act and Forest Act. Operating without registration will invite a penalty of Rs 1 lakh and failure to provide adequate local community employment will entail Rs 10,000 fine per instance.
Littering, off-trail movement and damage to vegetation will invite penalties ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 25,000 depending on the severity, while disturbing wildlife through feeding, chasing or harassment will attract a Rs 50,000 fine along with prosecution under wildlife laws. Agencies violating safety norms, operating without guides or ignoring seasonal bans will also face fines of Rs 50,000.