Central Zoo authority sends notice to Van Vihar National Park for allowing runners in eco sensitive zone

BHOPAL: Central Zoo authority served notice to director of Van Vihar National park, Atul Strivastava for allowing thousands of marathoners inside the zoo leading to the violation of Recognition of Zoo Rules, 2009. The action was taken after wildlife activist Ajay Dubey from Bhopal raised the issue with the authority on very next day of "Run Bhopal Run" held on December 4, 2016, where over 10,000 Bhopal residents participated.
Stating about his complaint, Ajay Dubey said, “Van Vihar officials granted permission for non-forestry activities which made lot of noise and created disturbance in the national park for speechless animals.It also violated Supreme Court’s judgement regarding eco sensitive zone.
“Van Vihar is a national park comprising of zoo; rescue centre and a breeding center and houses animals covered under schedule I and II of wildlife protection act 1972 and there are about 1100 free range animals, of 1300 living there. Its also a breeding centre for vultures which are very rare species these days.” He added.
The marathoners entered Van Vihar from gate number 1 and exited from gate number 2 covering 21 kilometer marathon which started from Motilal Nehru Stadium and ended at TT nagar stadium.
However, Dubey demanded exemplary action against both Van Vihar National Park officials as well as organizers Bhopal Runners- the NGO, but CZA has written to only Van Vihar National Park director to reply with factual information as soon as possible.
Director Van Vihar National Park, Atul Shrivastava, while talking to TOI said, “We haven’t received any notice yet, but yes the runners were allowed inside the national park, because they supported the cause of wildlife awareness. We kept this fact in mind, before allowing them and nothing was disturbed in premises.”
Adding on collector Nishant Warwade said, “I have not seen the notice but run bhopal run supported wildlife as its theme. It was for plantations and cleanliness. Runners and organizers complied with all norms of zoo with no loud speaker or music bands by school kids. No vehicles were used except ambulance and lead vehicles (vehicles are permitted by van Vihar anyways). The marathon made people committed to save tiger and wildlife. Infrastructure facilities were spruced up in park by civil societies which directly benefits cause of saving forest and wildlife. In fact it's a great model."
"On balance, I can say 600 odd people running and forwarding message of save wildlife and forest has enhanced the cause. District administration support bhopal runners which organised the run,” added Warwade.