1 month ago
IRS Officer's Homestay in Panna Tiger Reserve Built Illegally
A senior IRS officer and his wife built a homestay in a protected area near a tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh.
The construction was done without getting the necessary approvals from the forest department.
The land was bought between 2018 and 2022, and the homestay includes several buildings like cottages, a swimming pool, and a gym.
A committee set up to investigate found that the construction was illegal and recommended that the boundaries of the forest should be clearly marked to prevent such issues in the future.
Wildlife activists are concerned that the authorities are not taking action to remove the illegal structures, which could harm the environment and the tiger reserve.
A homestay was built on 4.9 acres of land in Panna Tiger Reserve’s Eco-Sensitive Zone by an IRS officer and his wife.
The construction was carried out without the consent of the Madhya Pradesh forest department.
The land was bought between 2018 and 2022, and the homestay includes multiple structures like cottages, a swimming pool, and a gym.
A committee found that the construction was illegal and recommended a joint-survey to delineate forest boundaries.
Wildlife activists argue that the structures should be demolished to protect the tiger reserve, but authorities have not taken action.
- Who
- B Srinivas Kumar (IRS officer) and Himani Sarad (Central Public Information Officer)
- What
- Construction of a homestay in Panna Tiger Reserve’s Eco-Sensitive Zone without proper approvals
- Where
- Panna Tiger Reserve’s Eco-Sensitive Zone, Chhatarpur district, Madhya Pradesh
- When
- Land bought between 2018 and 2022, construction completed by 2025
- Why
- Dispute over land records between forest and revenue departments, lack of proper approvals
Authorities' Inaction
Wildlife Activists' Concerns
Demolition of Structures
Authorities' Inaction
Authorities have not demolished the structures as required by law.
Wildlife Activists' Concerns
Wildlife activists argue that the structures should be demolished to protect the tiger reserve.
Key facts
- Land Size
- 4.9 acres
- Location
- Panna Tiger Reserve’s Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ)
- Owners
- B Srinivas Kumar (IRS officer) and Himani Sarad (Central Public Information Officer)
- Construction Details
- Six cottages, swimming pool, kitchen, eatery, gymnasium, water-purification plant, parking shed, staff accommodation, saw machine
- Legal Status
- Built without forest department approval
- Committee Recommendations
- Joint-survey to delineate forest boundaries, secure reserve boundaries
Quotes
Ajay Dubey
Wildlife activist
“"Two cases were registered for encroaching upon Panna Tiger Reserve’s core area to construct a building and operate a sawmill, yet these structures were not demolished as required under Section 34(a) of the Wildlife Protection Act."”
theprint.in
Sources
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