This story is from October 19, 2014

Govt sleeps over grant as Takhani Rehmapur sanctuary deteriorates

Even as Takhani Rehmapur Wildlife Sanctuary presents a picture of neglect, information procured under the RTI Act shows that the state government miserably failed to spend the grant of over Rs 1 crore that it received for the upkeep of the place.
Govt sleeps over grant as Takhani Rehmapur sanctuary deteriorates
HOSHIARPUR: Even as Takhani Rehmapur Wildlife Sanctuary presents a picture of neglect, information procured under the RTI Act shows that the state government miserably failed to spend the grant of over Rs 1 crore that it received for the upkeep of the place. Over the last 15 years, the forest department could spend only Rs 9 lakh from the funds it received to maintain the place.
This, when the sanctuary doesn't even have enough water drinking sites for the wild animals and birds.
To top it all, neither the boundary fencing of the wildlife refuge, located around 15 kms from Hoshiarpur, has been completed in all these years, nor the proposed pipeline. "Only nine storage places have been developed in the 956 acre sanctuary, which is home to hundreds of wild animals," said Jai Gopal Dhiman, a social activist.
"There is a no toilet for visitors or for the staff in the entire sanctuary. All the while, the state government has been claiming that it's making major efforts to attract tourism to the state," he said.
The entrance of the sanctuary is also in a bad shape. The information procured under the information act also revealed that department has not paid power bill of over Rs 61,000 for its tubewell. The staff also lacks safety kits or gumboots and they have to work without the basic aids and protection even though the sanctuary has poisonous reptiles.
When contacted, forest and wildlife minister of Punjab, Chunni Lal Bhagat, said that he would enquire into the issue as he was not aware of it so far.
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About the Author
IP Singh

IP Singh is principal correspondent at The Times of India, Jalandhar. He covers news in Jalandhar, Nawanshahr and Hoshiarpur, and writes on environmental issues, heritage preservation and politics. His hobbies include reading up on a variety of subjects.

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