The Forest Department has modified the entry and safari fee in national parks and wildlife sanctuaries across the State after a recent upward revision of fares came under flak for being too steep. The revised tariff, criticised for being exorbitant had the entry fee to Bandipur, Nagarahole, etc at ₹250 for Indians and ₹1,500 for foreigners while the cost of the safari was in addition to the entry fee and was pegged at ₹300 per head.
Following an outcry, authorities modified the original order as per which the entry fee has been pegged at ₹250 for every tourist visiting Bandipur, Nagarahole (Antharsanthe, Nanachi and Veeranahosahalli gates), Kali, Bhadra and BRT tiger reserve. The safari fee has been curtailed to ₹100 in the departmental bus. So the actual hike compared to the rates which prevailed till September, is only ₹50 for Bandipur for an hour’s ride.
However, for Nagarahole, the safari fee has been pegged at ₹250 (in addition to the entry fee of ₹250) because the duration of the ride is between two hours and 30 minutes to nearly 3 hours and the distance traversed is longer. The entry fee for Bannerghatta, Kudremukh, Talacauvery, Brahmagiri, Pushpagiri, Someshwara, Bhimgad and Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary is ₹150 per person. The entry fee for other protected areas is nominal. But there is no major relief for amateur and professional wildlife photographers as also for tourists keen to capture an image of wildlife during the safari.
Hitherto, no camera fee
Before the modified rules were announced, there was no camera fee in either Bandipur or Nagarahole for camera with a lens up to 500 mm. As per the new rules however, a camera with lens upto 70 mm will be levied ₹200 per unit per trip. For a lens between 70 mm and 200 mm, it will be ₹400 and for cameras with lens above 200 mm it will be ₹1,000 per trip. This is more than the safari and entry fee and has come under criticism from activists and wildlife photography enthusiasts. An online social media campaign has been launched to compel the authorities to revise and reduce the camera fee and is being addressed to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (pccfwl@aranya.gov.in) .
