From pankajs@VSNL.COM Sun Jun 19 12:15:18 2005
Date: Sun, 12 Jun 2005 17:54:07 +0530
From: Pankaj Sekhsaria 
To: nathistory-india@Princeton.EDU
Subject: Nepalese nationals banned from Kedarnath WLS

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Forest department's diktat stumps Nepalese in Kedarnath Correspondent :
Namita Kala
SOURCE : The Pioneer, Friday, June 10, 2005
Namita Kala/ Dehra Dun
Kedarnath, once a haven for Nepalese nationals, has now turned hostile for
them, following a forest department diktat that no Nepalese national will be
allowed to enter the Kedarnath wildlife sanctuary. The decision was made
after the forest department caught 38 Nepalese labourers involved in a
massive poaching operation near Gaurikund in September last year.
Following interrogation, the forest department realised that the area was
under constant environmental threat from labourers of Nepalese origin as
they were involved in large scale felling of trees like birch and juniper
and poaching of several endangered species of fauna in the region.
According to an estimate made by the local range officer, Mahipal Singh
Rawat, more than 55 quintals of wood was being illicitly sold every year by
Nepalese labourers and most of the wood being cut was oak. He further
estimated about 15 to 25 hectares of forest was being disturbed each year in
the area because of rampant felling and indiscriminate grazing of mules.
The Kedarnath forest division spans a huge area of about 1,54,521,75
hectares that includes not only the entire Mandakini valley but also parts
of the Alaknanda valley and even such far flung regions such as the Lohawa
range which was earlier part of the Western Almora forest division.
It is said to cover an area of 120 kms in length and 431 kms in width. In
1997-98 the area was declared a separate wildlife division as it huge tracts
of reserved forests within forests, meadows and peaks within its boundaries.
Considered a biological diversity hotspot, the sanctuary is home to a number
of endangered fauna including the Himalayan musk deer, the Himalayan thar,
the serow, the snow leopard, the Himalayan black bear and a large variety of
pheasants.
According to available information there are about 150 species of endangered
birds in this region. Unfortunately they are hardly sighted these days.
According to sources in the forest department, "outside elements'' like
Nepali labourers and members of the Juari tribe from Pithoragarh were coming
in large groups and were involved in widespread poaching activities with the
tacit support of the local population. Among the animals that were rotuinely
targeted include the musk deer, snow leopards, leopards and the black bear.
District Magistrate UD Chaube said the district administration was keeping a
tight check on all Nepalese nationals who were required to maintain proper
identification to remain in the district, during this season.

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