Their key demands include the withdrawal of the forest department’s checkpost from Rajabhatkhawa, permission for tourists to stay overnight at homestays in Jayanti and the resumption of car safaris from Jayanti
Our Correspondent Published 23.10.26, 09:51 AM
Forest villagers demonstrate near the Rajabhatkhawa checkpost, the main entrance to the Buxa Tiger Reserve, on Thursday Sourced by the Telegraph
The demonstration by forest villagers near the Rajabhatkhawa checkpost in Alipurduar district — the principal entrance to Buxa Tiger Reserve — entered its 17th day on Thursday, with protesters warning of an intensified agitation if their demands were not met by October 25.
The protesters said they would continue their demonstration until October 25 and intensify the movement from October 26 if no action was taken.
Their key demands include the withdrawal of the forest department’s checkpost from Rajabhatkhawa, permission for tourists to stay overnight at homestays in Jayanti and the resumption of car safaris from Jayanti.
Drivers of safari vehicles and tourist guides have joined the protest in recent days.
According to sources in the forest department, car safaris resumed from Rajabhatkhawa last Tuesday, with five vehicles currently operating for visitors.
However, drivers of 14 other vehicles previously engaged in safari operations from Jayanti remain part of the protest.
The protesters are primarily focused on Jayanti, which falls within the core area of Buxa Tiger Reserve (BTR). Tourism activities, however, are not permitted in the core areas of the tiger reserve.
On October 2, Union minister for environment, forest and climate change Bhupender Yadav, during his visit to Alipurduar, made it clear that tourism activities would not be allowed in the BTR core area with the reintroduction of a tigress at the reserve.
He also asked forest officials to identify a large area in the reserve’s buffer zone to develop international-standard ecotourism facilities.
In view of the ongoing protests, Raj Basu, the convener of the Association for Conservation of Tourism, has written to state forest minister Manoj Oraon and minister of state for home Bishal Lama, emphasising the importance of community-based conservation. In his letter, Basu said the conservation story across the Dooars was closely linked to community-based conservation and tourism.
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