By Sudeshna Sarkar
Kathmandu, July 19 (IANS)
They are Nepal’s ‘biggest’ artists. Yet Khem Prasad and Sundar Kali are in a sore plight now, on the verge of losing both their jobs and muse.
While Khem Prasad is a five-year-old male elephant, Sundar Kali, 35, is a female.
Both of them are employed by two jungle lodges located inside the Chitwan National Park in south Nepal’s Machan and Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge.
Their work is to carry visitors during elephant safaris and provide an unforgettable experience.
However, since Thursday, the two, along with nearly six dozen more of their ilk, have been facing an uncertain future with all seven lodges in the park being closed down due to the expiry of their leases.
While the anxious owners wait for the government of new Nepali Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal to decide if the lease should be extended, the two jumbos are also facing an end to a unique activity that sets them apart from the other elephants: painting.
They are ‘trained’ painters who have already completed over three dozen paintings and had exhibitions in Kathmandu.
Priced at $150 each or NRS 12,000 - a large sum in Nepal, one of the world’s poorest nations, the paintings at their debut exhibition raised about NRS 250,000. The money is to be used to construct watering holes for elephants and provide scholarship to children from families which lost a member in an encounter with wild elephants.
Dubbed ‘Picassos of the forest’, the two elephants attained their fame when a 17-year-old American schoolgirl decided to do something unusual for her high school project.
Ariane LeClerq, who has grown up in Nepal, says she was fascinated by elephants since she was a baby. Her parents used to take her to the Chitwan lodges where she would play with the elephants.
When she was three, she thought elephants were part of every household; her first question to her grandmother, whom she visited in Canada, was: “How many elephants have you ridden, Nana?”
Ariane’s half sister, who visited Thailand, bought an elephant painting there and when Ariane saw it, she thought, why can’t it be done in Nepal too where there is no dearth of elephants.
She emailed the trainer in Thailand who was teaching elephants to paint and he said he would be happy to come to Nepal and show her how to do it.
The next step was to buy paint, brushes and large canvases and train the elephants.
Khem Prasad, she says, was a natural who immediately grabbed the brush with his trunk and began making round strokes on the canvas.
“He has a lot of energy,” Ariane says. “He uses circular strokes and when he is painting, you can see he is totally absorbed.”
Sundar Kali was a surprise. Usually, elephants between two to five years are chosen as they are easy to train. But her mahout begged for her to be given a chance despite her age and she immediately cottoned on.
Sundar Kali, Ariane says, paints with placid unvarying strokes that go up and down.
The new skill the two jumbos acquired however may begin to wither as Ariane leaves Nepal at the end of the year to enrol in college in the US.
She says she doesn’t know what to do with her considerable collection of elephant paintings.
“This can be your business after you finish school, my parents have been telling me half-jokingly, half in earnest,” she says. “But even if I decide to promote and sell elephant paintings as my profession, it will have to wait for another four years till I finish college.”
Seven resorts inside CNP to close
PRABHAKAR GHIMIRE
“I have written to all seven resorts to close their operations inside the park from Thursday as lease contract couldn´t be renew till Wednesday -- the last day of 15-year contract,” Narendra Babu Pradhan told myrepublica.com on Wednesday. “No hotels operating inside the park will be allowed to lodge the tourists.”
However, tourists can enjoy jungle safari staying outside the park from Thursday.
Those resorts facing closure are Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge -- the first resort opened in Nepal, Machan Wildlife Camp, Chitwan Jungle Lodge, Gaida Wildlife Camp, Island Jungle Resort, Hotel Narayani Safari and Temple Tiger. Tiger Tops has been operating inside the park for last 45 years where as other resorts were opened during different times between late 1980s and early 1990s.
Park officials said they have no option but to close down the all seven hotels running under 15-year lease agreement.
“We have to follow the agreement between the park and hoteliers. So, we have no option but to close down all seven resorts and stop all tourist services being operated by them inside the park from Thursday,” said Pradhan. The 15-year lease contracts with existing big seven resorts operating inside the park expired July 15. Officials at MoFSE said decision on the fate of the big resorts couldn´t be made on time as consultation between the Ministry of Law, the MoFSC and the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation about the fate of park resorts has not completed.
With the closure of the resorts, the fate of over 700 workers has become uncertain. Those hotels were providing jungle safaris, maintaining around 40 elephants inside the park.
A source at MoFSE said, the ministry is preparing new contracts for operating hotels at the existing sites and four new sites inside the park.
The then government had arbitrarily extended lease contracts with the resorts against the existing National Park and Wildlife Conservation Regulations, which provide that the lease should be awarded through open competition.
A committee headed by Madhav Acharya, joint secretary at MoFSC, had few months back suggested different models for operating the existing resorts besides identifying sites for four new resort inside the park.
The committee had divided resorts into three categories and the royalty amount was fixed between Rs 6 million and Rs 10 million depending upon the site and the services.
The government was widely criticized from all quarters when it decided to extend the lease by 15 years in 1994. Conservationists have been blaming the resorts for destroying bio-diversity inside the park, which is also listed in the UNESCO´s World Natural Heritage Sites list.
They are paying yearly around Rs 45 million in royalties to the government and conservation fee to the Nepal Trust for Nature Conservation.
PRABHAKAR GHIMIRE
“I have written to all seven resorts to close their operations inside the park from Thursday as lease contract couldn´t be renew till Wednesday -- the last day of 15-year contract,” Narendra Babu Pradhan told myrepublica.com on Wednesday. “No hotels operating inside the park will be allowed to lodge the tourists.”
However, tourists can enjoy jungle safari staying outside the park from Thursday.
Those resorts facing closure are Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge -- the first resort opened in Nepal, Machan Wildlife Camp, Chitwan Jungle Lodge, Gaida Wildlife Camp, Island Jungle Resort, Hotel Narayani Safari and Temple Tiger. Tiger Tops has been operating inside the park for last 45 years where as other resorts were opened during different times between late 1980s and early 1990s.
Park officials said they have no option but to close down the all seven hotels running under 15-year lease agreement.
“We have to follow the agreement between the park and hoteliers. So, we have no option but to close down all seven resorts and stop all tourist services being operated by them inside the park from Thursday,” said Pradhan. The 15-year lease contracts with existing big seven resorts operating inside the park expired July 15. Officials at MoFSE said decision on the fate of the big resorts couldn´t be made on time as consultation between the Ministry of Law, the MoFSC and the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation about the fate of park resorts has not completed.
With the closure of the resorts, the fate of over 700 workers has become uncertain. Those hotels were providing jungle safaris, maintaining around 40 elephants inside the park.
A source at MoFSE said, the ministry is preparing new contracts for operating hotels at the existing sites and four new sites inside the park.
The then government had arbitrarily extended lease contracts with the resorts against the existing National Park and Wildlife Conservation Regulations, which provide that the lease should be awarded through open competition.
A committee headed by Madhav Acharya, joint secretary at MoFSC, had few months back suggested different models for operating the existing resorts besides identifying sites for four new resort inside the park.
The committee had divided resorts into three categories and the royalty amount was fixed between Rs 6 million and Rs 10 million depending upon the site and the services.
The government was widely criticized from all quarters when it decided to extend the lease by 15 years in 1994. Conservationists have been blaming the resorts for destroying bio-diversity inside the park, which is also listed in the UNESCO´s World Natural Heritage Sites list.
They are paying yearly around Rs 45 million in royalties to the government and conservation fee to the Nepal Trust for Nature Conservation.
Reply to this
Nepal’s oldest green resort closes
July 17th, 2009 - 6:45 pm ICT by IANSBy Sudeshna Sarkar
Kathmandu, July 17 (IANS) Nepal’s oldest green resort, founded in the early 1960s by a legendary British tourism entrepreneur who also gave this country its famous elephant polo tourneys, has been forced to shut down after its lease expired and the new government was not able to extend it immediately.
The Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge, located in the heart of the national park in southern Nepal’s Chitwan district, a major tourist attraction, was founded by Jim Edwards, who came to Nepal via Iran, Afghanistan and New Delhi, and decided to make it his home.
The green resort, which employs over 300 people, including 12 elephants, was asked by the park authorities to close down from Thursday after its 20-year lease expired.
Along with it, six other lodges inside the park were also shut down for the same reason.
“It is going to send negative messages to tourists at a time Nepal is seeking to draw 1 million visitors in 2011,” said Yadav Bantawa, general manager at Tiger Tops.
“Tiger Tops opened when the national park did not even exist. It has contributed immensely in terms of business, royalty and conservation efforts. We pay the government annually about NRS 10 million as royalty and conservation fees.”
Wildlife and green organisations have been critical of the government for the mushrooming of resorts in the national park, which is a Unesco-declared World Heritage site.
World Wildlife Fund Nepal says while tourism should be promoted in the park, it has to be eco-friendly and without adversely affecting or destroying the prime habitat of wild animals.
“For this the infrastructure of all the resorts should be ecofriendly,” said Anil Manandhar, director WWF Nepal. “Big permanent structures should be allowed only in the buffer zone of the park, and not in the core area. The eco-friendly infrastructure inside the park should not be in prime habitat of wild animals.”
Manandhar also said the government should have strong regular monitoring measures and immediately close down the resorts if they were found flouting the park’s rules and regulations.
Bantawa said the resorts were in dialogue with the forest ministry and the results were positive.
He said the government was ready to extend the leases but needed a formal approval from the cabinet.
With Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal being in Egypt for the 15th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit, a full cabinet meeting has not been held since his departure Tuesday. Nepal would return Saturday.
The seven resorts together employ over 1,000 people directly as well as about 70 elephants.
While they have been closed to tourists awaiting a decision by the government, a skeletal staff is present in all seven to feed and look after the elephants.
Reply to this
CNP resort owners accuse govt of being unjust, impractical
REPUBLICA
KATHMANDU, July 21: Owners of seven resorts inside the Chitwan National Park (CNP) termed the government’s decision to close down the resorts as unjustified and impractical step.
“Ordering the resorts to shut down abruptly without informing us in advance is unjustified and impractical,” Prakash Shrestha, managing director of Machan Wildlife Camp told a press meet in the capital, Tuesday. “We are convinced it is full of prejudice and guided by the vested interest of certain persons.”
The CNP office had ordered the all resorts to shut down their operation as the day 15-year long contract to operate the resorts expired on July 15.
The CNP administration ordered the closure of the country’s oldest resort Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge, Machan Wildlife Camp, Chitwan Jungle Lodge, Gaida Wildlife Camp, Island Jungle Resort, Hotel Narayani Safari Resort and Temple Tiger Jungle Camp.
Shrestha said the impact on tourism sector is being felt following the closure of park resorts, with the cancellation of booking and spreading of negative message to international tour operators.
“It will badly affect the Visit Nepal Year 2011 as the number of tourists is all set to decline by over 50 percent if the resorts are not re-opened in time,” warned Shrestha.
Regarding Monday’s statement from Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority which said that five resorts – Machan Wildlife Camp, Gaida Wildlife Camp, Island Jungle Resort, Chitwan Jungle Lodge and Temple Tiger Camp – owed a total of Rs 10.9 million, the hoteliers claimed the due was the amount had already been waived by the government in 2003 as recommended by a high-level commission.
“The figure that came out from the CIAA is not based on the fact, as most of the dues have been cleared,” said Shrestha. “The dues are not big issue and if the government insists we are ready to pay; however, there should be convincing reasons from the government,” Shrestha.
Basanta Mishra, managing director of Temple Tiger Camp, said that with the closure of the park resorts, overall tour package including combined package with Indian tour operators has been affected. He also said employment of over 1200 workers is at risk due to closure of the resorts.
He claimed that both Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and Tourism Minister Sharat Singh Bandari are positive about extending the lease of the resorts.
Hoteliers also warned that they would launch protest if the government called tenders from interested parties including them for granting contracts to operate the resorts inside the park.
Reply to this
Future of Chitwan-based resorts uncertain
23 07 2009The future of over seven wildlife resorts inside Chitwan National Park (CNP) remains uncertain because the government has not come up with a decision regarding the extending of their leases, which expires on July 15.
The government had extended their tenure by 15 years in 1994. The government has been blaming these resorts for destroying the bio-diversity inside the park, a UNESCO´s World Heritage site. It is just not the international issues, the resorts have been charged with intentionally delaying the payment of their lease amounts and royalties to the CNP, according to government sources.
A committee led by the joint secretary of the Ministry of Forest, and comprising officials from Nepal Tourism Board and the Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation, has been formed to suggest the government whether or not to extend the lease.
Meanwhile, hotels and resort operators outside the national park have urged the government no to renew the contract. \”They should be given 18 months to dismantle their property and move out of the national partk, \” regional president of Hotel Association Nepal Hari Bhakta Ghimire said.
Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge, Machan Wildlife Camp, Chitwan Jungle Lodge, Gaida Wildlife Camp, Island Jungle Resort, Hotel Narayani Safari and Temple Tiger are operating inside the Chitwan National Park.
« एन आर एन आएरल्याण्डको दोश्रो साधरण सभा एनआरएन आयरल्याण्डको साधारणसभा हुने »
Actions
Information
8 responses
Suman, thanks for airing this issue. I am the CEO of Tiger Mountain – of which Tiger Tops is a major part along with Mountain Travel Nepal.
It is not actually right that the government has criticsed the lodges over bio-diversity; certain external individuals with vested interests may have done so. No one has complained to Tiger Tops directly. Also on a point of fact, Tiger Tops had a 20 year lease from mid-July 1989. Other lodges have slightly different terms and durations of lease.
Currently the whole issue of lease renewal for lodges, like Tiger Tops, is balanced on the legal interpretation of clause 6 of the National Parks Act. Our lawyers – such as Sr Advocate Badri Karki, Sr. Advocate Ganesh Raj Sharma, etc. all are of the opinion that this clause entitles the lodges to have their leases renewed by negotiation as in the past (3 times) – as our lease contracts also state. The Forest Ministry lawyers, for watever reasons of their own, believe that the system has to go to tender. As a foreigner, I cannot interpret the subtlties of legal nepali words, so have to be guided by respected senior lawyers.
However, Tiger Tops employs over 200 people (all Nepali and most from the immediate area of the lodge), pays the government and National Trust for Nature Conservation Rs.1 crore in lease fees annually, and has done much to support the conservation efforts of the government of Nepal, through research, projects publicity and funding.
I sincerely hope we can continue to do so through one of Nepal’s tourism icons – Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge – in Chitwan National Park.
Marcus Cotton
CEO Tiger Mountain Nepal
Marcus,
Thanks for the comment. I am Managing Director of one of the lodges in Sauraha. I believe that your Tiger Tops group is paying huge sum of money for the government for the lease. And there is no comment about the employment oppurtunity provided to the local people and as a whole Nepalese people by your group.
Do you know how many lodges are operated in Sauraha? i.e Outside the park. They all are paying revenue to the government according to their income. And like yours lodge, they are also providing employment oppurtunity to 100 percent Nepali People and moslty local people. No matter how small or big ? None of the lodges in Sauraha region are taking benefit of Chitwan National Park. The lodges that are operated inside park like Tiger Tops are taking big advantage of it.
One example I would like to bring to your attention Mr. Marcus, till now none of the private elephants owned by hotel entrepreneur are allowed to do elephant safari in chitwan national park. Private Elephant from Sauraha region are taking tourist to the local community forest. Do you think this is fair ? There are many facilities that outside hotellers are missing compared to insiders.
Inside Park and Outside Park hotels are judged in two different ways. Inside park hotels are charging customers huge sum of money than the outiside park hotels. So there is no any problem for your types of hotel to pay 1 Crore tax to the govenrment.
I am not saying that all inside park hotels should be closed permanently.
I think some time period should be given to inside park hotels to find alternative place outside park and they should be moved outside.
Thanks
Suman
Dear Suman,
I appreciate your position and agree that the facilities provided to those operators inside the park and those outside are different. This is an issue for the parks department – we have never advocated any prejudice regarding operators based inside or outside. I published an article in BCN’s Danphe magazine in around 2001 clearly stating this. At that time I was GM of Tiger Tops.
As you are well aware, tourism has not been an easy business in the past 10 years and so your comment that it is easy to pay 1 crore is easily written – I can assure you it is incredibly hard to achieve when you have to find the funds and write the cheque!! I would also point out that we pay the big sum – our nearest competitor inside the park pays about Rs.30 lakh – there is another example fairness and equality for you – so it is not just “inside” / “outside” issues as you can appreciate!!
I have strived to drive the highest standards of environmental management at Tiger Tops and all officials and wildlife experts endorse this. I also used to encourage the late Dr. Maskey when he was DG to enforce even higher standards on all operators in the park (both those resident inside and those visiting). This is a chellenge but would futher enhance Chitwan’s reputation as having a world reputed model of public / private partnership in conservation and tourism.
I do not know the precise number of lodges at Sauraha but believe it is between 60-70. Do please advise me as I would like to have accurate information.
I disagree that Sauraha are not taking benefit of CNP – your busienss is based on the park as your guests come to visit CNP for its wildlife. Also, I Tiger Tops cannot be said to be taking big advantage of the park – in my time down there we supported the park management through conservation, research, logisitc, etc. to the sum of Rs.20 lakh a year above our lease fees, etc. It maybe I’ve not clearly understood your meaning of “taking advantage” if so, please accept my apology.
Your comment about elephant safaris is one I am well aware of and I do have a certain sympathy with you on that issue. I think it is one where the park management and the Sauraha Lodges need to develop an effective modality that addresses the provision of sound tourist services andthe environmental issues. You might be interested to note that I have been workign to reduce the numbe rof elephants we have in the park….so it is not all “more and more”!!
I really do stand by my sincerely held belief that there is a role for effectively managed (low impact, high environmental controls) lodges inside the park on the TT formula, as well as lodges in the style of Sauraha – we cater to different market segments and deliver quality products each after our own style all of which give torusits a unique experience and opportunity to marvel at Nepal’s rich bio-diversity.
You have my e-mail. Do feel free to contact me directly should you wish to visit TT and “see for yourself” or discuss any matters.
I only wish there was a better and more friendly working relationship for all the tourism operations in / around Chitwan – in the style you have shown me in this correspondence. How can we build on this? To my way of thinking, this is the way ahead for us all.
Best wishes,
Marcus
Suman,
Sorry, one point I forgot – employment: TT employs over 200 staff in Chitwan over 85% of which are from Chitwan / Nawalparasi districts. We have 3 foreigners – myself and 2 other directors. Tiger Mountain Nepal employs around 750 people excluding foreigners – the same people as noted above.
Hope this clarifies.
Marcus
Marcus,
Thanks for the reply. Do you think the government is going to renew lease? The regional Hotel Association in Sauraha is urging the government not to renew the lease for the insiders. I don’t know if the government is going to listen them.
Personally what I think is hotels like Tiger Tops should not be closed however the operation inside the park should be stopped and they should do business from outside park.
I am in Ireland currently so totally unware about the ungoing talks regarding this issue.
Thanks
Suman
Suman,
I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree on the issue of Tiger Tops inside or outside the park. I really respect the friendly and calm manner in which we have discussed this – in the past my experience was that many people in Sauraha were exceptionally agressive and unfriendly on this issue – which only created defensiveness and ill feeling to no real benefit for anyone!
Where are you in Ireland – my sister lives in Kerry in the extreme SW of the country.
Best regards,
Marcus
Reply to this
PRABHAKAR GHIMIRE
The resorts are currently closed as their leases expired July 15. Earlier, the resorts got licenses under pressure from the then royal palace to operate inside CNP without competition.
Sources told myrepublica.com that resort owners have exerted pressure on Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, Forest Minister Deepak Bohara and other senior party leaders to renew the leases. They have buckled to pressure and are preparing to table a proposal in the cabinet in this regard, it is stated.
But senior bureaucrats said such a move would violate existing law. They said they are not against resorts inside CNP but want to select parties to run them through open bidding.
“Awarding and extending contracts to operate resorts inside the park without calling open tenders is against the existing Buffer Zone Management Regulations and the National Park and Wildlife Conservation Regulations,” sources told myrepublica.com on Thursday.
The law requires fresh bidding before awarding contracts to run resorts inside CNP that shelters endangered wildlife including one-horned rhinos.
“Why not extend contracts by the same process adopted 15 years back?,” Bohara said.
Bohara also said the ministry was pushing for a decision under immense pressure from the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation and the Finance Ministry, which expressed concern over possible impact on Visit Nepal Year 2011.
With the expiry of contracts on July 15, the CNP administration ordered closure of the country´s oldest jungle resort Tiger Tops as well as Machan Wildlife Camp, Chitwan Jungle Lodge, Gaida Wildlife Camp, Island Jungle Resort, Narayani Safari Lodge and Temple Tiger.
Source also said some of the resorts have erected permanent structures inside the park in violation of regulations.
Resorts inside the park have been paying Rs 2.2 million to Rs 10 million in royalty and conservation fee to CNP and the National Trust for Nature Conservation respectively, with Tiger Tops the highest contributor.
However, resort owners have been claiming that they should be allowed to run without calling tenders as they have already invested millions in infrastructure.
Around 70 hotels and resorts are operating in and around CNP, the third most popular tourist destination.
“The government move will be detrimental to wildlife tourism in Nepal as it has sent a negative message to the international market,” said Prakash Shrestha, managing director of Machan Wildlife Camp.
The resorts have defaulted millions in royalties and conservation fees, intentionally delaying payment with backing from influential persons, it is also claimed.
The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) recently stated that five resorts operating inside CNP are in arrears of Rs 10.9 million in royalties and conservation fee.
CIAA said these hotels owe royalty of Rs 2.97 millions to CNP and conservation fees of Rs 7.93 million to NTNC.
Resorts with dues are Machan Wildlife Resort,Gaida Wildlife Camp, Island Jungle Resort, Chitwan Jungle Lodge and Temple Tiger.
Hotels operating outside CNP have already announced they would protest if the government extends the leases of the jungle resorts.
prabhakar@myrepublica.com
Reply to this
Chitwan hotel staff threaten agitation
Post Report
NARAYANGADH, Aug 7 - Workers from seven hotels inside Chitwan National Park have announced that they will launch an agitation to demand job security as the lease renewal of the hotels still remained in limbo. The lease agreements expired a month ago.
Organising a press meet on Thursday, the Nepal Independent Hotel Workers' Union announced an agitation programme concentrated in Sauraha which would start from Sunday. "If the issue is not settled by Saturday, we will go for agitation from Sunday," they said.
They will go for road obstruction in Chitwan and Nawalparasi beginning from Aug. 14. The hotels including Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge, Machan Wildlife Camp, Chitwan Jungle Lodge, Gaida Wildlife Camp, Iceland Jungle Resort, Hotel Narayani Safari and Temple Tiger have remained closed since July 16.
The hoteliers and workers have been demanding renewal of their operation licenses, whereas national park users and hoteliers of Sauraha have been demanding relocation of these hotels.
The workers complained that the hoteliers were telling them to go home saying that they could not afford the expenses as the hotels have remained closed. They said that they would continue their agitation until their job security was ensured.
"Where can the workers go with their children without money?" asked Ram Singh, an employee of Tiger Tops. "The issue is being politicised instead of going for a settlement."
There are 126 employees at Tiger Tops. The employees of the hotel have been working in rotation after the hotel was closed. They are confused whether they will still have their jobs as the row is still continuing.
An employee of Hotel Iceland demanded that nobody should try to take away their jobs. There are 1,500 workers in the hotels here and their branches.
Reply to this
Urge to reopen Chitwan resorts
Kantipur Report
KATHMANDU, Aug 14 - Tourism entrepreneurs have urged the government to reopen the seven resorts located inside Chitwan National Park (CPN) at the earliest citing that the closure of the resorts will hit the overall tourism industry negatively.
Addressing a press conference in the capital on Thursday, Prasiddha Pandey, president of the Hotel Association Nepal, said that the government's decision to shut them down without prior notice was impractical.
"If there are weaknesses, they can be solved," said Pandey. "But the government's decision to close the hotels and resorts has left the tourism sector in a serious condition."
He said that the government's action in the run-up to Nepal Tourism Year 2011 would also discourage internal and external investment in the tourism sector.
Kush Kumar Joshi, president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry said that it was the wildlife of Chitwan after Mt. Everest that attract tourists from all over the world, and that the move would also have a negative impact on attracting foreign direct investment in the sector.
"The government should have evaluated the resorts' importance in the tourism sector before shutting them down," said Marcus Cotton, chief executive of Tiger Tops. "As we are recognized internationally, this is not just a local matter."
Reply to this
PAC team in Chitwan
RAMESH KUMAR PAUDEL
CHITWAN, Aug 17: Members of a sub-committee constituted by Public Account Committee (PAC) of the legislature-parliament to study on whether or not to extend the lease contracts of resorts operating inside the Chitwan National Park arrived here on Monday.
The members of the sub-committee, led by Narayan Dahal, would begin its field study from Tuesday.
“We will investigate host of issues including the reported negative impact on bio-diversity by resorts operating inside the CNP and by the movement of tourists as well as complaints against the resorts who failed to pay revenue on time,” Dahal said.
The panel is scheduled to have interactions with different stakeholders, including hoteliers of Sauraha, local chambers of commerce, political party leaders, CNP officials, buffer-zone users groups, security officials and workers of the resorts.
Dahal said the committee would meet with local party leaders and owners of all seven resorts before returning to the capital.
“We will conduct in-depth study on the pros and cons of operating resorts inside the park. Then we will make our recommendations to the government,” Dahal added.
The PAC has been looking into the issue after the Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation Deepak Bohara and then secretary Uday Raj Sharma remained at loggerheads over extending the lease contracts of the resorts.
The Ministry had directed the resorts to cease their operation after their contract expired on July 15.
Reply to this
Chitwan hotels owe govt Rs 15.6 million
CHITWAN: Hotels situated inside the Chitwan National Park (CNP), which are lying closed due to the dispute over renewing their contracts, owe the govewrnment Rs 15.6 million.
Of the seven hotels there, four have to pay revenue and conservation fee. The remaining three have already made payment under both heads. CNP officials said, Machan Wildlife Camp and Gaida Wildlife Camp have to pay both revenue and conservation fee while Chitwan Jungle Lodge and Tiger Camp have to pay conversation fee. These have, however, paid revenue. Temple Tiger, Island Jungle Resort and Narayani Safari have paid revenue and conservation fee, said CNP chief conservation officer Narendra Man Pradhan.
CNP records show the four hotels have to pay Rs 15,580,727. Gaida Wildlife Camp has to deposit the highest amount of revenue and conservation fee. The hotel has to pay Rs 3,954,449 in conservation fee and Rs 4,650,000 in revenue.
CNP records show that Machan Wildlife Camp has to pay Rs 2,807,000 in revenue and Rs 400,000 in conservation fee. Similarly, Tiger Camp has to cough up Rs 3,311,000 in conservation fee and Chitwan Jungle Lodge Rs 4,68,000. Most of the hotels paid revenue and conservation fee only between mid-May and mid-June.
When asked why they are not paying the revenue and conservation fee, hotel operators said that it was not their fault. "We have signed the agreement with the government to pay the amount under both heads in instalments," said Gaida Wildlife Camp manager Prakash Neupane.
Since 1993, the hotels have been operating inside the CNP after signing an agreement to operate for 16 years.
Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) has urged the government to renew their contracts. It said the hotels are closed since July 16 after the contract span expired.
Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry also urged for renewal of the contract saying foreign investment would be hurt, if the government continues to violate the clauses mentioned in the contract.
The hotels were generating revenue worth Rs 300 million and contributing to employment generation for about 3,000 people.
Reply to this
Tiger Tops is not listed here, by the way, as it is one of the few lodges who were fully paid up at the start of the debate.
Reply to this
Govt indecision leaves Jungle resorts in agony
Kantipur Report
NARAYANGARH, Aug 24 - With new tourist season around the corner, Jungle resorts inside Chitwan National Park are in dilemma whether to accept the bookings for new season or reject it. It's been one month since these Jungle resorts have been closed. And, the government is yet to come up with solution regarding the renewal of their licences.
These jungle resorts were all set to receive tourists during the peak season of September, but they have had to cancel their reservations as the government has not said they could reopen. Yadav Bantawa, general manager of Tiger Tops, said, "We are in a big dilemma whether to start operations or not."
Tiger Tops receives about 1,000 tourists each year. Tour agents have said that cancelling bookings could hamper Nepal's image in the international arena.
Prakash Shrestha, manager of Machan Wildlife Camp, said that the closure of the hotels in this area could hit the tourism industry hard. He urged the government to take a fair decision so that the tourism industry of Nepal is not hampered.
According to various hoteliers, the hotels and lodges cannot delay renovating their properties because the peak season is just a couple of weeks away. India is doing good business every year as the government is supporting its wildlife tourism, but the case here in Nepal is totally opposite, said chief of Chitwan Conservation Area, Narendra Man Babu Pradhan.
Chitwan is the most popular jungle safari destination in Nepal.
Reply to this
Reply to this
Another parliamentary committee takes up Chitwan resorts issue
KATHMANDU, Sept 11: Accusing another parliamentary committee of encroaching on its jurisdiction, the parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources and Means (CNRM) has begun investigation into the row over whether to extend the term of seven resorts operating inside the Chitwan National Park (CNP) -- a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is investigating into the matter. But the CNRM has said investigation into national parks falls under its jurisdiction not under that of the PAC. The PAC´s report prepared after the field study of CNP and hotels is in the final stage.
In a meeting on Thursday, CNRM members interrogated Secretary of Forest and Soil Conservation (FSC) Yuvraj Bhusal, Joint-Secretary of the ministry, Madhav Acharya and Director General of the Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation Gopal Upadhyaya about the matter. In the meeting, the committee also handed over the responsibility of the investigation to its subcommittee on forest and soil conservation that looks after the matters related to the ministry of FSC.
A meeting of the subcommittee on Thursday decided to inform the PAC about its investigation and corresponded to the latter. "We wrote to the PAC that our committee has taken up the matter as it falls under our jurisdiction," said Ramesh Rijal, a member of the committee. The subcommittee will also probe issues related to other national parks as well.
The seven resorts are operating inside CNP for decades. Their latest lease contract expired on July 15. Lawmakers are strongly against the practice of granting lease contract to operate jungle resorts inside the world heritage site. They have suggested that the resorts be immediately relocated outside CNP.
The members of CNRM have argued that their committee is the right body to conduct a study on the impact of such activities inside national parks and other conservation areas. "The PAC´s duty is only to investigate if the resorts are paying their revenue, conservation fee and see if there are any financial irregularities. It cannot take the decision on whether to allow the resorts to operate inside the national parks," Rijal said.
However, Chairman of PAC Ram Krishna Yadav said his committee would not stop its work due to other committee´s decision to probe into the matter as PAC was in the last stage of making a final decision.
Posted by DT at 4:07 PM
Reply to this
Hoteliers to propose common exit plan
AKANSHYA SHAH
KATHMANDU, Oct 10: Perturbed by the decision of two parliamentary committees to shut down all the seven resorts and hotels inside Chitwan National Park (CNP), the hoteliers together with Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) have decided to propose a common exit plan to the government.
As per the decision taken at a meeting at Nepal Tourism Board (NT
"We will propose a new agreement between the seven hotels and the government and will also request the authorities to immediately address the problems faced by the hotels outside," Prasiddha Pandey, President of HAN, told myrepublica.com.
While the seven resort owners, who were earlier adamant on not leaving the CNP, have now agreed to the Committee recommendation to close down, the outside hotels too have joined hands with them to echo a "common voice" before the government.
The 63 hotels have, however, said that their support is based on HAN´s commitment to voice their problems before the concerned authorities. The 63 hotels have stood against the ´monopoly´ of the hotels operating from inside the Park and have demanded that they be given 20-30 elephants as per the carrying capacity through the Padampur VDC immediately.
"Our support is contingent upon HAN´s assurance that in the new agreement our demands will also be incorporated," Shankar Saiju, vice-president of Chitwan Chapter of HAN said in the meeting, adding, "It has to be one package deal now."
HAN´s proposal will also be supported by NTB, Nepal Tourism Year (NTY) 2011 working committee, and Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA). "In the light of upcoming NTY, we want that the resorts be given permission to open at once," Ram Kaji Koney, President of NATTA said.
Tourism Board urges prompt govt decision
Stressing that the stakes are too high at CNP for the upcoming NTY, NTB Chief Executive Officer, Prachanda Man Shrestha, said "There is no doubt that conservation is important, but the government´s indecisiveness will hit the NTY hard." He claimed that of bookings to be received for 2011, 25 percent will be for CNP resorts. NTB is expecting 1 million tourists for NTY.
"With the ongoing confusion, the NTY program is in jeopardy as promotional materials and some bookings have been finalized and distributed," Yogendra Shakya, the NTY coordinator and vice-chairman of the NTY working committee said. He added, "Nepal is losing one more product at a time when it should be adding products for NTY. This will portray a bad image abroad."
"It is best to ask the hotels to relocate. But the government must give enough time for the exit," said Shakya.
Reply to this
In the antepenultimate paragraph Mr Shrestha mentions "There is no doubt that conservation is important, but the government´s indecisiveness will hit the NTY hard." - I agree with this but cannot see why conservation and the inclusion of well managed lodges within the park are mutually exclusive goals.
Perhaps he is refering to the argument bought before one or both of the special committees at some point in this long debate that no tiger ever goes within 2km of any of the lodges - something that is demonstrably untrue as more than thirty years of tracking data and a database of only slightly shorter years of camera trap photos taken under the auspices of the International Trust for Nature Conservation Long Term Tiger Monitoring project.
This data shows regular visits (weekly or less than) by territorial tigers within the 2km radius of Tiger Tops (and several other Lodges) and that nighttime visits through the complex are far from uncommon. Personal experience leads me to recall that an early morning walk could frequently turn up tiger tracks on the main road within 50m of the Lodge.
As I shot the below videos I must also take the blame for the shaky hand and awful commentary, I can also guarantee however that they were shot from the Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge front lawn and from Tiger Tops Tented Camp respectively.
Reply to this
POST B BASNET
Earlier, citing a report from the Department of Wildlife and National Park, Joint Secretary at the Committee Dr Rabi Sharma Aryal had said most of the rhinos and tigers in the park have been found killed near the hotels. "Was the national park made for biodiversity conservation or hotel operations?" he added.
Similarly, local conservation activist Basudev Dhungana, who was also invited to the committee meeting, had accused the hoteliers of "looting". He had also accused them of evading tax while enjoying exclusive rights of operating hotels inside CNP at the cost of wildlife.
The barrage of accusations was enough to upset the hoteliers. "Were we invited to the meeting to be humiliated?" asked Bharat Basnet, owner of Rhino Wildlife Camp Nepal situated inside the CNP, at the end of the meeting, pointing his finger at the subcommittee chairman Ramesh Rijal. The parliamentary committee had formed a subcommittee led by Rijal to study the issue. Rijal said he would apologize if the hoteliers felt hurt by the remarks of the participants.
The subcommittee had invited the stakeholders and Minister for Forests and Soil Conservation Deepak Bohara for discussion. There are seven hotels inside CNP that enjoy exclusive rights to operate inside the CNP, which is also a UNESCO world heritage site. Their 15-year contract with the government to operate hotels there ended two months ago.
Earlier the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the parliament had decided to extend their contract for up to three years saying it would be wrong to remove the hotels from the CNP as the country is all set to mark 2011as tourism year. But the Natural Resources and Means committee took up the issue claiming that forest resources fall under its jurisdiction.
Most lawmakers who spoke during the meeting opined that the hoteliers should be immediately evicted from the CNP as the law bars anyone from enjoying exclusive rights to public property. "It will be unfair to allow them to enjoy exclusive rights to operate hotels inside CNP, while barring the locals from using the resources there. They should immediately pack up," said Maoist lawmaker Hari Rokka.
Also speaking at the meeting Minister Bohara said he is confused and cannot take a decision as the two parliamentary committees have taken up the issue. He said he is under tremendous pressure from the Federation of Nepalese Chambers and Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) and other organizations to let the hotels operate till 2011, the year the government is celebrating as a tourism year. "Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation is under this committee, and we issue directive to you. And we leave it to you to decide what is right," said Subcommittee chairman Rijal. According to an official, the committee is all set to direct the government to remove the hotels from the CNP.
If hotel operation within the park is not causing adverse environmental impacts, then hotel operation is not necessary bad. if such operation is causing negative environmental impacts to the wildlife and wildlife habitat, then next step is to see if there are ways to mitigate those impacts. if mitigation is impossible, then only should the government take step to close the hotel operation inside the park. where is the environmental assessment/monitoring report that identifies negative impacts that cannot be mitigated?
Hopefully, this will not be a major issue in the larger drive to protect biodiversity.
Also, it is against the principles of natural justice to allow for the hoteliers to have exclusive rights inside the national parks.Likewise, it would be against fair competition to allow only the present group to continue.
So, the only way forward is the closure of these hotels.
Jaya Gainda, Jaya Desh.
An apology from Mr. Rijal is scant compensation and does nothing to provide security for Tiger Tops 384staff and 1000 dependants.
As a foreign investor in Nepal, I a deeply saddened to see Tiger Tops, an internationally renowned organisation for its commment to pioneering responsible conservation tourism, tried in absentia, unrepresented, undefended, and not permitted even to know wwhat evidence is being laid against us.
No official has made any substantive allegation supported by evidence. We have seen nothing but prejudice and snide innuendo.
Humiliaiton is one matter - what about integrity, professionalism, due process - all have been roundly abused in the matterof the Chitwan lodges.
Marcus Cotton
Chief Executive
Tiger Mountain Nepal
Reply to this
AKANSHYA SHAH
Speaking to myrepublica, Minister Bohara said that the cabinet committee headed by finance minister and comprising the forest, tourism, and law and justice ministers, the vice-chairman of National Planning Commission and secretaries of all the ministries concerned is all set to take a decision on reopening the resorts.
"We will give the resorts an exit plan and as per the decision of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). Keeping in view the upcoming Nepal Tourism Year, they will be allowed to operate till 2012," said Minister Bohara. He added that the decision to this effect would be taken within "few days" by the cabinet committee.
Stating that the Natural Resources and Means Committee (NRMC) had delayed the decision in this regard, Minister Bohara said, "My Ministry is positive about the decision taken by the Public Accounts Committee and we are working towards reopening the resorts."
As per the exit plan, the seven resorts -- Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge, Machan Wildlife Camp, Chitwan Jungle Lodge, Gaida Wildlife Camp, Island Jungle Resort, Hotel Narayani Safari and Temple Tiger Hotel -- will be asked to close down latest by June 2012. As per the PAC decision, those resorts that willingly close before the stipulated time will be provided incentives as well.
This initiative comes at a time when the NRMC has directed the government not to take any decision unless the PAC gives a clear directive. The NRMC also claimed that PAC has no jurisdiction over the matter. Also, the decision is against the recommendation jointly presented by the Department of Wildlife and Nature Conservation, Nepal Army, WWF and other conservation experts early this month.
The hoteliers along with the Hotel Association of Nepal and the Nepal Tourism Board are now in the forefront advocating such an exit plan. While the seven resort owners, who were earlier adamant on not leaving the CNP, have now agreed to the Committee recommendation to close down, 63 other hotel operators outside the conservation area too have joined hands with them to echo a "common voice" before the government.
Claiming that the government is positive about reopening the seven resorts, Prasiddha Pandey, President of HAN said, "It is a welcome decision as the closure has already hit the tourism industry hard," adding, "We have urged the concerned authorities to arrive at a decision within this month."
Reply to this
Forest Ministry’s image sinks: Bohora
Himalayan News Service
KATHMANDU: Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation Deepak Bohora today said the past performances of the ministry had tarnished the image of the ministry.
“I am struggling hard to regain the lost image,” he said. He said that the ministry had frequently been dragged into controversies by ‘greedy people’ who he argued were envious of the valuable resources like forest and wildlife. Following a controversy, seven hotels inside the Chitwan National Park remained shutdown.
The minister is reportedly in favour of reopening the Chitwan hotels inside the conservation area, which now remained shutdown.
Meantime, the parliamentary committee on natural resources today
initiated an investigation into the alleged involvement of the minister
in operating hotels within the conservation area declared as no-go-zone for hoteliers.
Minister Bohara has also been widely criticised for the rampant
encroachment of forest land, unprecedented deforestation and wildlife poaching taking place across the country.
Data shows more than 90,000 hectares of forestland has already been encroached by illegal settlers, while rhino population dropped to 408 (2008) from 612 (2000).
“This worries me a lot,” said Bohora, adding, “We have prepared a strategy to control forest encroachment while a special operational plan will take care of the rhino poaching.”
MoFSC has also requested the lawmakers no not endorse any law
that promotes the use of forest land.
“The efforts of the ministry alone will not suffice without a political commitment against these malpractices,” Bohora argued.
Reply to this
Reply to this
Ramesh Prasad Bhushal
KATHMANDU: The first jungle safari resort of the nation, Tiger Tops, may leave the Chitwan National Park after the decision of the government to permit the hotels and lodges inside the CNP till the end of 2012. The Tiger Tops had been operating in the CNP since 1965.
“We are paying considerably higher tax to the government compared to other hotels inside the park, which are getting equal facilities as us. On top of that, the government decided to increase the tax by 20 per cent on the amount that has been paid. All this has made the shareholders of Tiger Tops contemplate leaving CNP,” Yadav Bantawa, General Manager, Tiger Tops, told this correspondent. This resort alone pays Rs 10 million per year as royalty and conservation tax.
Four of the seven hotels inside the CNP, namely Narayan Safari,
Island Resort, Temple Tiger and Chitwan Jungle Lodge, have resumed their business after a
three-year agreement with the Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation. The remaining hotels — Gainda Wildlife Camp, Tiger Tops and Machan Resort — are yet to sign an agreement to operate their business.
“We want the authorities to look into the case of Tiger Tops and do a rethink on the tax issue. If no positive outcome emerges, the oldest jungle safari may not resume its business,” added Bantawa.
The officials at the DNPWC, however, said there was no possibility to do a rethink on the decision and the hotels should pay the increased tax. Every year, there will be a further increment of 10 per cent, they added.
The government had decided to renew the agreement of hotels operating inside CNP for the last time for three years in the wake of Nepal Tourism Year 2011.
Before the cabinet decision, the hotels’ case was taken up by the Public Account Committee. In view of the Nepal Tourism Year 2011, the PAC at first recommended the government to allow the hotels to operate till that year. But the parliamentary committee on natural resources intervened, halting the implementation of the PAC decision, arguing that the natural resource committee, and not the PAC, should decide on the issue.
According to Article 3 of the National Park and Wildlife Conservation Regulation 1973, CNP has the authority to permit any lodge and resort inside the CNP after floating tenders. But under an agreement, which was renewed in 1993 for 16 years, the hotels were allowed to operate inside the CNP without the formal tender process. The hotels have been permitted to resume their business without the tender process for the last, giving them enough time to prepare to quit the entire core area and operate their business outside the park.
Reply to this
TIGER TOPS NEPAL
SITUATION UPDATE #22 Date: 18/12/09
SOME LODGES RE-OPENING
LEASE SITUATION UPDATE
We are very pleased that four lodges with lease concessions have now singed new agreements for some 2½ years with the Parks Department. After a long delay, and much vacillation and obstruction, tourism will return to Chitwan.
However, the sad reality is that these four lodges are being asked to pay between Rs.200,000 and Rs.400,000 (US$2,300 to $5,500) more than their old lease whereas Tiger Tops is being asked to pay Rs.2,000,000 (US$27,000) more FOR THE SAME LEASE TERMS.
The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Forests appreciates the outrageous inequality of this disparity. We are currently in negotiation with the government to resolve this. Tiger Tops will then be re-opening.
In the meantime, Karnali Lodge and Camp are fully operating and the new rooms at Karnali Lodge have had their “initial rough edges” honed. Wildlife sightings are good – including regular tiger sightings and periodic sighting of the Gangetic Dolphin. Tharu Lodge has a fine range of jungle walks inside Chitwan National Park, river safaris on the Narayani River in the park (good Gharial crocodile sighting potential), and elephant safaris in the rich buffer zone forest adjacent to Tharu Lodge. Add to the wildlife activities, the local village life and culture, then Tharu becomes an excellent “one-stop” destination for the terai.
While Tiger Tops lease negotiation is finalised, we appreciate there are some guests who may not have time to get to Bardia and do wish to be inside the park. We are able to make arrangements with one of the re-opened lodges and book guests there – it is not, of course, Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge or Tiger Tops Tented Camp, but will provide the in-jungle experience.
As soon as there are further developments, we will update you all.
Marcus Cotton
Chief Executive
Tiger Mountain Nepal
TIGER MOUNTAIN Nepal, PIONEERING RESPONSIBLE CONSERVATION TOURISM SINCE 1965
Reply to this
PRESS RELEASE For immediate release
Date: 21/01/10
TIGER TOPS SIGNS NEW LEASE WITH GOV’T NEPAL
Today Tiger Tops, the pioneer wildlife-safari lodge inSouth Asia , signed a new lease with the Department of National Parks of Nepal. After a 6 month hiatus when all seven lodges operating inside Nepal ’s premier , had their operations suspended at lease expiry, Tiger Tops is now back in business. The new lease runs to July 2012 covering the important period of Nepal Tourism Year 2011. Tiger Tops welcomes the tighter environmental management clauses in the new lease. The company acknowledges the support of the Hon. Minister of Forests, Mr. Deepak Bohara, and the Secretary, Ministry of Forests, Mr. Yuba Raj Bhushal.
Founded in 1964, Tiger Tops has been a tourism icon for this Himalayan nation and was the first tourism product focussing on the wealth and diversity of Nepal ’s lowland area, the Terai. Tiger Tops pre-dates that was only established in 1973 and the company actively lobbied for the establishment of the park. Chitwan is a conservation success story for Nepal and is a world model of participatory conservation initiatives.
Tiger Tops has developed the standards for responsible conservation tourism in Nepal ’s lowland protected areas and operates to strict environmental and social guidelines. Tiger Tops has strong partnerships with leading researchers, local and international charitable and conservation organisations and works to enhance standards for responsible conservation tourism.
Tiger Tops naturalists are the only tourism staff in Nepal to pass a rigorous examination to be accorded the title Naturalist. They support and lead a range of social and environmental projects, including the International Trust for Nature Conservation’s “Long-term Tiger Monitoring Project” under the leadership of Dr. Charles McDougal PhD, which has been studying the tiger population of western Chitwan for over 25 years, yielding rich data on tiger ecology.
Tiger Tops is happy for its staff of over 300 that the company can resume its operations and display their dedication and superb standards of service to tourists from around the world. In spite of the closure for 6 months, the staff has all been retained on full pay. We thank them for their patience.
Marcus Cotton Yadav Bantawa
Chief Executive, Tiger Mountain Nepal General Manager, Tiger Tops
+977 (0)1 436 1500 +977 (0)1 436 1500
Reply to this