BANGALORE: A limit on the number of trekkers, mapping of trails and guides are among the highlights of the Forest Department’s new trekking policy.
The department will unveil the policy on November 1 this year.
“Work on the policy is in full swing. We will make a formal announcement on the trekking policy on November 1,” Vinay Luthra, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) told Express.
“Framing guidelines for trekking in non-forest areas is the duty of the Department of Youth Services and the Gen Thimayya National Academy of Adventure,” pointed out Luthra.
The policy, according to him, will identify new spots for adventure buffs for exploring nature. However, areas identified as “an elephant home range” will be out of bounds for everyone, he said.
The department felt the need to come out with fresh guidelines in the form of a policy in the wake of youths entering forests unauthorisedly and losing their way in the jungle. Recently, a techie from Chennai had a miraculous escape when he got separated from a group of friends in Bisle forests in Sakleshpur taluk of Hassan district, and spent three nights in the jungle alone. He was later rescued in a joint operation by the police, revenue and forest staff.
According to the new policy, the department will identify designated trails, map them with the help of global positioning systems (GPS) and only then allow people to trek. The number of people allowed to trek a particular trail per day will be restricted to 20. They will be given details of the types of clothes to wear, shoes and other accessories well in advance so that they can come prepared, Luthra said.
Besides, they will be briefed about the difficult terrain before the trek.
Designated Guides
Luthra said around 50 youths who are ready to work as guides for trekkers will be selected soon and will undergo two-week basic training at Gopinatham in Chamarajanagar district, in addition to acquiring field experience. Local youths will be selected for these posts to help them earn an income.
Each guide will accompany a group of trekkers and he will be given a walkie-talkie and other gadgets to be in constant touch with the department.
In the first phase, the PCCF said the department will open up Castle Rock on the Goa border, Kulgi, Anshi and Dandeli in Uttara Kannada, Sita Nadi in Kolar district, Gopinatham, Kollur Mookambika in Udupi, Bhagavathi in Dakshina Kannada, Kudremukh and parts of Yellapur in Uttara Kannada for trekking. In the next phase, trekking trials in Kodagu and Udupi districts will be identified.
“A number of good points from the Uttarakhand government’s trekking policy have been incorporated in our policy, including maps and trekking routes,” added Luthra.
Trekking will be conducted by the department in coordination with Jungle Lodges and Resorts and the Eco-Tourism Department. Fees will be fixed soon, he said, adding that interested youths have to contact the forest department before going on treks into forests.