By IANS
Jaipur : Rajasthan has imposed a three-month ban on visitors, particularly armed villagers, to the Ranthambore national park in an attempt to protect wildlife.
The park located in Sawai Madhopur, about 170 km from here, has been closed for visitors from July 1 to Sep 30. The state government has also imposed a law that prevents anyone from carrying a weapon or any object that can be used as weapon in the park and its surrounding areas.
"The local administration has imposed Section 144 of the Indian Penal Code in the park and nearby surrounding villages till August 29. We will review it again in August and if need be it may be extended," Prem Singh Charan, the sub-divisional magistrate of Sawai Madhopur told IANS.
Any person flouting the rules can be imprisoned for a period of up to two years or heavily fined.
Charan said the step has been taken as during the monsoon period when armed villagers carrying swords, guns and batons bring their cattle for grazing in the park and there have been instances of clashes with the forest guards who try to stop them from entering the park.
As per the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972, grazing or movement of livestock is not allowed in national parks.
In a recent order, the Rajasthan High Court noted that there was acute shortage of staff in the Ranthambore national park and asked for increasrf security in the park.
As per the court order, 450 more personnel including forest guards, rangers and officers are required for manning the entire national park and the court has directed the state government to sanction the requisite number of posts in each category urgently.
The Rajasthan government is now planning to employ ex-servicemen to improve the security in the Ranthambore, Sariska and Bharatpur sanctuaries.
Charan said former soldiers would be provided with latest arms and would help in keeping a watch on wildlife as well as poachers.