Gujarat Tourism India - increase of 1 lakh tourists and Rs 1 crore incomes in a year

Sasan Gir National Park has witnessed a huge increase in number of travelers in recent months.

Amitabh Bachchan’s hugely publicized ads for Gujarat have been beneficial to the state in many ways, from which Gir seems to be benefiting the most.

According to the figures between June 2009 to May 2010 Gir National Park and Gir interpretation center of Devalia both were visited by 5166 foreign tourists and 200800 Indian tourists; which is a total of 205966 tourists.

From which the Gir interpretation center had 213 foreign and 134005 domestic tourists while the Gir Sanctuary had 4953 foreign and 66795 domestic tourists.

But this year the number has increased by 98,861 tourists.

According to forest department officials in Sasan Gir; 239 foreign tourists and 1, 70,350 domestic tourists, totally 1, 70,589 tourists have visited Gir interpretation center and 6061 foreign tourists and 1, 28,177 domestic tourists, totally 1, 34,238 tourists had visited Gir Sanctuary between June 2010 and May 2011.

Last year Gir Interpretation center made an income of Rs 1, 20, 46,155; whereas Gir sanctuary made Rs 87, 20,000. In total the forest department made an income of Rs 2, 16, 66,840.

While this year with 98,861 more tourists, Gir sanctuary has made Rs 1, 66, 49,950; whereas Gir Sanctuary made Rs 1, 56, 91,726. In total the forest department made an income of Rs 3, 23, 41,676 which is Rs 1, 06, 74,836 more than previous year.

Apart from that the hotels and other hospitality resources near the National Park are benefiting from the increase in the number of tourists. Take an example of local car operators.

While one Gipsy car driver was getting 70-80 tourist trips of Gir sanctuary in 2009-10, in year 2010-11 the same driver got 120-150 trips.

But the real hospitality the tourists will never forget is the one offered by the small farm owners in the villages nearby, the tourists feasted on delicious Kathiyavadi Food like Bajra No Rotlo, Kadhi, Khichdi and Olo.

The Lion King has not only blessed the forest department but also the small scale cottage industry and numerous individuals who depend on them.

Sasan Gir National Park - 836 crore assistance for Lions

For the Unique Ring Road to surround Sasan Gir Sanctuary and Gir National Park which will help in minimizing the man-animal clash and human activity in the region and for Lion conservation, Gujarat State Government has demanded Rs.836.17 crore central assistance from the Government of India.

The Gujarat State Government in a formal communication wrote to the Ministry of Forest & Environment (MOEF) that, As per 2010 estimation Greater Gir area had about 411 Asiatic Lions.

The only home of Asiatic Lion – Sasan Gir - needs to be intensively protected and managed with all out efforts in conservation of them.

In spite of successful conservation efforts over last four decades registering sustained increasing population trend the Asiatic Lion is still critically endangered on account of its total population being only about 411.

Therefore the long-term attention for conservation of Asiatic Lion is required.

In the recent times poaching of large cats for international market has imposed a serious threat to lions also.

“The Government of Gujarat is taking utmost possible steps. Considering the need for additional resources and contribution of Government of India, the Government of Gujarat has submitted a proposal of “THE LONG TERM CONSERVATION OF ASIATIC LIONS IN BRHUHAD GIR.”

The project cost was Rs.262.36 Crore with Government of India’s share Rs.236.17 Crores and Government of Gujarat share of Rs. 26.19 Crore.

The cost included the cost of relocation and rehabilitation of resident people and Gir Maldharis.

The proposal includes strengthening protection, habitat development, and wild life health care and mitigating man-wild animal conflict situation, use of modern technology, eco development works, public awareness, eco tourism, wrote the state Government to the MOEF.

The MOEF has provided only Rs.120.46 lakh as financial and technical assistance to the State Government for protection and conservation of Asiatic Lions in Gir forest in last four years.
Gir National Park and sanctuary area is 1412.13 Sq. Km.

Six State Highways and some minor roads pass through the Sanctuary and used by the local people.

Existing Highways passing though the sanctuary affect movement of animals and Forest cover, increase Wildlife mortality with the volume of traffic and increase possibility of poaching. To reduce this traffic a project of “Garland/Ring road” around Gir forest has been proposed.

The State Government wrote to the MOEF that, “The proposed garland/ring road is estimated to be a length of 269 Km. The estimated cost of project is about Rs.600.00 Crores.

The said project has been duly recommended by State Board of Wild life and is sent to Union Government on 2-06-2009 for consideration.

The ring road proposed 14 over passes and 16 under passes on specific migratory path locations for safe passages to wild life while crossing Highways and immunize the protected area from traffic playing through human interference.’’

Sasan Gir National Park – Closed doors on tourists this monsoon

As I read before few days ago, Sasan Gir National Park - located at Sasan in Junagadh district, is only home to pure Asiatic lions and attracts a large number of Indian as well as foreign tourists closed for tourists during the monsoon season owing to the breeding of wild cats and conservation efforts being undertaken at the sanctuary.

As per online Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary Divisional Forest Officer Sandeep Kumar Interviews, he said that, “Its (Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary) closing is being done to provide some privacy to wild animals like lions, leopards and birds like peacocks etc during their mating season as the four months of monsoon period are considered the best for their breeding season.”

“Since we supervise the conservation efforts, we want to prevent any disturbance in the conservation activities, which could also be caused by the tourists. So we close the sanctuary,” Kumar said, adding that the park would be closed from June 16 and will reopen only in October after the monsoon season is over.

As per the 2010 census, the total number of lions in Gir sanctuary has risen to 411 from 359 in 2005. With a total area of 1,412 sq km (about 258 sq km for the national park and 1153 sq km for the sanctuary), the park is considered as safe haven for the lions and other species.

“It is also a natural habitat for leopards and antelopes like sambar, spotted deer, blue bull, black buck, and wild boar, jackal, hyena, langoors, porcupine, bear and crocodiles and over 250 species of birds.”

The officer also added that the roads in the park are kachcha and get damaged during monsoon. They need to be repaired before allowing tourists to visit (the park) after its closure period is over, he said.

“Not only that we have to monitor the movement of wild animals during rains and in case of heavy rain in the area, we have to chalk out a rescue plan and taking them to safer places.”

In addition, if big cats fall sick, we have to make arrangements for their treatment and that is why the closure of the park during monsoon season is required.

Sasan Gir National Park Talala - હસક પ્રાણીઓના ખોરાકમાં નાધપાત્ર વધારો

Really Its good news for all Wildlife Lovers from All over the world which are already know the importance of Present of Asiatic Lions, Tigers, Leopards and Many more wild animals at Sasan Gir National Park and also on the Whole world. By the way, Updates are like that,

સંખ્યા ગણતરી બાદ ગીર જંગલમાં ચિતલની સંખ્યા ૩૮૪૩૨, વાંદરાં ૮૮૩૭, સાબર ૨૪૧૦, જંગલી ભૂંડની સંખ્યા ૩૦૧૪ થઇ.

૨૬૭ ચોરસ કિલોમીટરના ઘેરાવામાં પથરાયેલા ગીરના જંગલનાં હસક પ્રાણીઓના ખોરાક સમા તાણાહારી પ્રાણીઓની સંખ્યામાં નાધપાત્ર વધારો થયો હોવાનું જણાવવામાં આવ્યું છે.

જંગલમાં વસવાટ કરતાં સહ-દીપડા સહિતનાં હસક વન્ય પ્રાણીઓના ખોરાક સમા તાણ ભક્ષી પ્રાણીઓની સંખ્યામાં વધારો થતાં તેમને હવે જંગલમાં જ પૂરતા પ્રમાણમાં આહાર ઊપલબ્ધ થઇ રહેશે તેવું તારણ છે. અત્રે ઊલ્લેખનીય છે કે તાજેતરમાં ગુજરાત રાજય વન વિભાગ દ્વારા ગીર જંગલમાં ૨૪ રૂટ નક્કી કરીને તાૃણ ભક્ષી
પ્રાણીઓની સંખ્યાની ગણતરી કરવામાં આવી હતી. ‘‘રોડ કાઊન્ટગ’’ પધ્ધતિથી આ ગણતરી કરવામાં આવી હતી. આ ગણતરી કરતાં વિવિધ તાણભક્ષી પ્રાણીઓમાં એકથી લઇ પાંચ ટકા સુધીનો વધારો જોવા મળ્યો હતો.

દર વર્ષે યોજાતી ગણતરીમાં બે તબક્કે ગણતરી કરવામાં આવે છે. પ્રાથમિક ગણતરી ફેબ્રુઆરીમાં અને આખરી ગણતરી મે માસમાં કરાતી હોય છે. તાજેતરની ગણતરી બાદ ગીરના જંગલમાં ચિતલની સંખ્યા વધીને ૩૮૪૩૨ થઇ છે. જયારે વાંદરાં, જંગલી ભૂંડ અને ચકારાની સંખ્યા અનુક્રમે ૮૮૩૭, ૩૦૧૪ અને ૩૧૨ની થઇ છે. સાબર ૨૪૧૦, નિલગાય ૧૪૦૧ અને ચૌશગાની સંખ્યા ૨૯૧ થઇ છે.

જયારે મોરની સંખ્યા વધીને ૧૯૬૩૫ થઇ છે. હસક પ્રાણીઓને જંગલમાં જ તાણ ભક્ષી પ્રાણીઓનો ખોરાક મળી રહેતાં તેઓએ ખોરાક માટે બહાર ભટકવું પડતું નથી. એમ વનવિભાગનાં સૂત્રોએ જણાવ્યું હતું.

Visavadar Taluka Junagadh District News – Eleven black bucks found dead

Eleven black bucks were today found dead on the outskirts of Gir Forest area in Visavadar Taluka in Junagadh District of Gujarat. Forest officials are trying to ascertain the cause of the deaths.

They suspect that this could be due to some kind of poisoning of the water nearby. "Carcasses of 11 black bucks were found in the revenue area of Visavadar taluka," Range Forest Officer, Junagadh District, Sudhir Chaturvedi.

"These were found at five different places near the border of Kanavadla and Nana Hadmatiya villages. Three of the black bucks were males and eight were females," he said.

All the carcasses have been sent for post-mortem and forest officials are trying to identify the cause behind the death of these animals, he added.

Sasan Gir National Park Sanctuary

Last but not the least is the people's participation that was given credit for the spectacular increase in the population. "We got the maximum of people's participation in the census process this time. Lots and lots of volunteers had joined the exercise," the forest department stated.

Be that as it may, the main functionaries in lion conservation are the residents of the surrounding villages, who do not flinch when a lion kills their livestock. How possessive the villagers are about the lions is evident from this incident of 2007.

Soon after the poaching incidents in 2007, the forest department was seeking help from the villagers for better protection of the lions. The villagers said they would help the department only if it promised that it would not take away any of the lions (meaning, the relocation proposal of the central government).

"'You do not worry about the lions preying on our livestock that is our internal issue. The lions are part of our family; we can deal with them. But don't take them away,' the villagers told me. I was totally impressed by their humane legacy," Modi said.

Much as the king of the jungle gets the lion's share of attention, one should not overlook the other wildlife which keeps the ecosystem robust. Principal Secretary, department of environment and forests, Gujarat, SK Nanda said all volunteers had reported sighting large numbers of sambars, retells and porcupines. "The population of Sambar is estimated to be around 48,000, there are 250 leopards in the Gir Jungle and 1,070 all over Gujarat," he said.

Narendra Modi Interview – About Asiatic Lions Census Method at Sasan Gir National Park

Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modisaid the world should notice the scientific approach used in the lion census by Gujarat State this time. "Institutes should conduct a scientific study of this method and get it replicated in other wildlife censuses too," he added.

He said that, earlier, the census was carried out in a rather arbitrary manner, seeking input from passers-by about lion sightings and estimating their population on the basis of attacks made on other animals. But this time, the method used was technologically very robust.

According to the information given by the department, the special features of the latest census were the use of GIS, GPS and wireless technologies for effective coordination. Proper documentation was done for each observation. Through direct sighting, the animals were identified by distinct body-marks.

Each team involved in the census was to record these body-marks and other details such as time of the sighting, to and fro directional movement, etc, on a form prepared by the forest department. Digital pictures were also taken for the records.

Summer is the best time to conduct this exercise as the number of water resources gets restricted. Lions and other wild animals need to drink at least once in 24 hours. This makes it comparatively easy to decide the places in the jungle where the animals could collect.

The available water sources and probable places where the lions could visit were surveyed during the forest department's nine-month-long pre-census exercise.

"Long ranging animals like lions are not confined to man-made ecological boundaries. Keeping this in mind, a beat was decided as the smallest geographical unit inside the Gir protected area and a village was taken as the smallest unit outside Gir Jungle," chief wildlife warden RV Asari said.

The exercise to record the numbers and movement of the lions had begun nine months back. Based on the observations made during this period, 641 probable sites were identified where the chances of finding the lions were the highest. Also, data of the hunts of the last 10 years were analyzed. Gir National Park and the adjoining areas were divided into seven regions, 28 zones, and 100 sub-zones for the census.

At the last count, 135 officers, 450 enumerators, 900 assistants, 134 volunteers, 49 photographers, 13 doctors and 12 researchers were part of the census team.

Sasan Gir National Park News - Asiatic Lion Census Completed

The four-day exercise to count the number of Asiatic Lions at its only abode in the Gir Forest in Junagadh District Saurashtra region of Gujarat concluded.

Officials engaged in the census, refused to be drawn into the number game till all reports were cross-checked and tabulations completed, but preliminary information indicate a steady rise in the lion population in “Greater Gir,” including areas outside the Gir National Park where lions have strayed into lately.

Forest department sources said the lion population could have increased to 390 to 400 despite incidents of poaching and natural deaths during the last five years. In the last census, held in 2005, the count was put at 359 (plus minus 10).

The final result is expected to be announced on the Gujarat Foundation Day at 1st May - 2010.

Asiatic Lions Census India – 200 cameras for Sasan Gir National Park

The 13th Asiatic Lion Population Estimates 2010 will begin on April 24 in Greater Gir Sanctuary, which includes Gir National Park and Sanctuary. The area is spread in four - Junagadh Districts, Amreli Districts, Bhavnagar Districts and Porbandar Districts.

Principal sectary forest and environment department SK Nanda informed the media on Tuesday that the population estimates this time will be different from the earlier exercises.

"For the first time, we are using 100 GPS equipment, 200 cameras and 100 special camera teams for making an accurate documentation of the lions and keeping the exercise error free.

Another first is that the exercise will also incorporate Greater Gir," Nanda said and added that the many non-forest staff as ex-government officials, doctors, journalists, nature lovers would participate in the exercise.

"We have identified 450 locations in the Greater Gir area where enumerators will take estimate of the lions," he said.

Giving details of schedule, Pradeep Khanna, PCCF, Gujarat, said the exercise will start on April 24 and continue till April 27.The findings will be announced on April 29. "About 1,600 people will take part in the survey, out of which 100 will be volunteers," he said.

Speaking on the occasion, senior IFS officer RV Asari, the nodal officer for the survey, said, in order to make a comprehensive survey, the Greater Gir Jungle area has been divided into seven regions, 28 zones and 100 sub-zones.

Asiatic Lions Population Sasan Gir Jungle Junagadh District Gujarat India

The suspense that has built up over the last five years over the lion population in Sasan Gir Jungle will end within 72 hours of April 24, when the scheduled Asiatic Lions census in the region begins. But the exact number by which the population of the Asiatic Lions in Gir Wildlife Forest has risen will be known only on May 1, when Gujarat turns 50 as an independent state.

The census will be carried out by a team of 1,300 volunteers who will be joined by senior state foresters and big cat experts drawn from all over the country. Spotting the lion king was never easy but foresters are hoping that technology will come to their aid this time.

This is the first time that the lion census is being conducted on such a massive scale over a large area and much more scientifically than in previous years. The laborers, forest staff and volunteers involved in the census will fan out over 300 beats carved out of a 5,000 sq km area called the Greater Gir.

Seven regions were identified; these were then divided into zones, sub-zones and beats. This is also the first time that the ‘Greater Gir’ region which includes areas in – Amreli Districts, Junagadh Districts, Bhavnagar Districts and Porbandar Districts- is to be covered for the census. Earlier, it was restricted to the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary spread over an area of 1,412 sq km.

The inclusion of other areas for the census is a restrained admission by the establishment that the lion habitat has now expanded much beyond the sanctuary area. The majestic beast is now steadily reclaiming its traditional corridor all the way from Porbandar to Bhavnagar.

The last lion census of 2005, which stated that the lion population in the Gir sanctuary was 359, was conducted by identification of pug marks. This time the methodology of ‘direct sighting’ will be used. Under this method, specific body marks will be identified and uploaded into the GPS device carried by each team. This data will be available to all other teams simultaneously.

“It will reduce redundancies to a great extent, but not completely,” said principal chief conservator of forests, Pradip Khanna. Ironically, it might be relatively easier to enumerate the lion king in summer as they tend to hover close to the water holes because of the heat.

Sasan Gir Forest National Park - GIS for Asiatic Lions

In a first, the state Sasan Gir Forest Department will be using Geographical Information System (GIS) for census of Asiatic lions in the Gir Forest National Park from April 25 to 30.

Unlike in earlier methods, the department will not be using baits for the census this time.

Nearly 450 beat guards have been identified as enumerators for the upcoming census.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Pradeep Khanna said, “We are opting for GIS mapping to prevent redundancy and bring in more accuracy in counting.”

According to Khanna, in the last census, a total of approximately 360 lions were reported at the Gir sanctuary.

“We will not use baits this year. We have not used the system for two consecutive terms. We have trained our staff to follow simply the sighting system,” he said.

The preliminary survey for probable locations of sighting lions has already begun at the sanctuary.

Forest officials said, “We will also identify lions by their scars, which is a specific method for some animals that are found close to human habitats and those away from the area.”

Khanna said: “The GIS system will help the Forest department to do away with the tabular form of saving the Asiatic lion census data. It will also facilitate the department to bookmark Asiatic lions habitat including changing trends and seasonal patterns.”

According to officials, new methods will be a combination of the earlier ones. “The census will be done in three parts. First, it will be counting, followed by rest for the staff and lastly the collation of sightings,” said forest officers.

Gir National Park Sasan Forest Jungle Asiatic Lions Junagadh Gujarat India

IBM to help create 'Little Africa' in Gujarat.

In a bid to provide employment to youth of the African-origin Sidi community settled in Saurashtra, Gujarat government has planned to create a ‘Little Africa’ on the fringes of Gir forest by developing a theme-based resort.

The resort to be developed on 25 acres of land would be promoted by global giant IBM. The tribal development department of the state government has entered into a tie-up with IBM India for the project.

“The Rs 10-crore project, excluding the cost of land, would be fully funded by the Gujarat government. IBM will provide expertise to select a private partner to run the resort. It will also provide consultancy to market this ‘Little Africa’ across the world to lure maximum tourists,” said Per Yorgansen, project manager, IBM Denmark, who is in Ahmedabad for IBM’s Corporate Service Corps (CSC) program.

Pallavi Shukla, senior consultant to the state government for the project, said that development work would start by March 2010 and the resort would be functional in three years.

“Around 200 Sidi youth will get direct employment. Besides, there would be plenty of indirect employment opportunities as a ‘gram haat’ to display Sidi handicraft will be set up. Every evening there would be cultural events featuring Sidi ‘Dhamal’ dance troupe, which is very popular,” said Shukla.

The resort would be a replica of a typical Sidi village. Even interiors of all the 30 rooms would have an African touch. A museum would display various facets of Sidi life in and around Gir Jungle Forest, especially their interface with the Asiatic Lions.

The Sidi community came to India from East Africa as slaves around 500 years ago. Their population is currently 10,000 in Gujarat, concentrated mainly on the periphery of the Gir forest in Junagadh district

Sasan Gir National Park Forest Jungle Asiatic Lions Junagadh News Gujarat India

Gir Asiatic lions at Sasan Gir National Park, Talala Junagadh District to wear a chip under their skin.

The Gujarat government has decided to install microchips under the skin of the lions in the Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, the only abode of the Asiatic lions, to track their movements.

The decision was taken following a series of lion killings, both natural and accidental, an official spokesperson said on Wednesday.

The spokesperson said a control tower would also be set up in the sanctuary with global positioning system. The State has sanctioned Rs.40 crore for the project.

Sasan Gir National Park Asiatic Lions Wildlife Sanctuary News Gujarat India

Gujarat zoo refuses lion exchange- Asiatic Lion Re-introduction Project spurs numbers supremacy game.

Tata Steel Zoological Society’s bid to procure Asiatic lions has hit a hurdle, thanks to the proposed Lion Re-introduction Project in Madhya Pradesh.

The Sakkarbaug Zoo in Junagadh City (Gujarat) has turned down Tata Zoo’s request for a pair of Asiatic lions on exchange basis. There are about 80 such lions in the Gujarat zoo, all rescued from Gir Wildlife Sanctuary.

Sources said that the war of attrition between Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh governments prevented Sakkarbaug zoo authorities from giving away surplus Asiatic lions to their counterparts, including the one at Jamshedpur.

The problem began with the Asiatic Lion Re-introduction Project proposed at Palpur-Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.

The project is an effort to save the last Asiatic lions from extinction. The lion population in Gir forests is under threat from epidemics, natural and man-made disasters. The project is aimed at establishing a second independent population of Asiatic lions at the Palpur-Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary.

Sakkarbaug authorities are reluctant to let go of lions as it wants to retain its monopoly over the tourism revenue generated by the endangered species.

The Union ministry of environment and forests has intervened to resolve the issue between the Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh governments. But things have failed to make any headway.

An official of the Sakkarbaug Zoo said: “We are not giving away the lions at present. There’s an instruction from the state government.”

“I spoke to the authorities at Junagadh zoo recently but they have expressed helplessness in providing us with a pair of Asiatic lions. They have told us to wait for at least a year,” Tata Zoo director Bipul Chakravarty told The Telegraph.

“There are at present about 380 lions in Gir and 80 in the zoo,” he said, adding that zoos are permitted to keep 15 lions.

According to Chakravarty, they require Asiatic lions as the Central Zoo Authority has banned breeding of hybrid ones. The zoo here presently has a pair of hybrid lions.

Tata Zoo authorities are concerned with the receding population of big cats, especially lions and tigers, due to the deaths of a lion and a tiger recently. Moreover, one of the two female tigers has lost its breeding capacity.

The zoo is experiencing problems in breeding the young female tiger due to the absence of its male counterpart. Authorities have requested their counterparts in Guwahati to provide a male tiger in exchange for emus.

Girnar Mountain Temples Annual Lili Parikrama Junagadh City Gujarat India

Girnar Lili Parikrma will start at 29th October and this time will also ban for Plastic and Gutkha.

Around one million Hindus will participate in Girnar’s anual Lili Parikrama(Green pradakshina or circumambulation). The 36-km parikrama will start from 29th of October and end on 2nd November. According to Gujarati Hindu calendar Parikrama starts from Kartik 11 to 15 every year.

Girnar the tallest mountain of Gujarat is 6 km. from Junagadh city. On an average, about 7 lakh devotees attend the parikrama but as Gir forest has a lush green look after good monsoon this year, it may attract one million devotees. In year 2003 Parikrama had attracted 1.2 million devotees.

The History of Girnar Lili Parikrma in Junagadh is like that,"according to popular belief, after winning the war at Kurukshetra, Pandavas had done the parikarma to seek God’s blessings."

As the stretch of the Parikrama passes through the forest, it is an adventurous trip for the youngsters. After the rainfall, the ponds and rivers are full of water adding to the scenic beauty of the forest and hills, so this year many more youngsters will participate in the Parikrama. Youngsters see it as solving a dual purpose. They complete a ritual as they enjoy the beauty of Gir forest.

Early this week, the district collector of Junagadh chaired a meeting to discuss the arrangements. The meeting resulted in formation of Action Group for smoother implantation of various related works.

The state transport corporation has planned to arrange 150 extra buses, 20 more than last year to accommodate extra traffic of Lili Parikrama. Railway authority is planning to add extra coaches around Parikrama schedule.

The Parikrama will commence from Girnar Taleti, night halt at Jinabava Madhi, and MarvellaBordevi and return to the starting point on the fifth day.

The forest department has put a ban on plastic bags and gutkha. Anyone found violating the ban will be fined, said forest department officials.

Porbandar Junagadh District President Pratibha Patil Saurashtra Visit News Gujarat India

President visits Bapu's birthplace in Porbandar City.

President Pratibha Patil paid homage to Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, at his birthplace, Kirti Mandir, in Porbandar on Friday. The governor, chief minister Narendra Modi, state ministers, Porbandar MP Vithal Radadiya, Porbandar MLA Arjun Modhvadiya and other diginitaries, who accompanied the President, also paid homage to Gandhiji on his 140th birth anniversary.

The President arrived at Porbandar at 9.10 am and directly went to Kirti Mandir to participate in an all-religion prayer.

She was welcomed by girls there. In a reciprocal gesture, she applied tilak on the girls' forehead. It was for the first time in the history of Kirti Mandir that a President participated in the all-religion prayer.

President Patil paid homage to Gandhiji with a garland of cotton thread. Thereafter, she sang Gandhiji's favourite bhajan 'Vaishnav jan to...' along with all the dignitaries.

"It was a great moment and experience to visit the place where Gandhiji was born and (later) sacrificed his life to make India independent from British rule," she wrote in the visitors'book. Greeting people on this occasion, she said, "This is an occasion for all of us to reflect on the life and work of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi."

"Whenever I remember Bapu, particularly on this day, I am overwhelmed by his leadership, philosophy and values. His leadership inspired millions to unite for the cause of independence," she added.

"He also taught us to shed fear, to understand the importance of truth and to work for the eradication of poverty, illiteracy and discrimination," Patil said. The President also visited the birth place and memorial of Kasturba Gandhi, wife of the Mahatma and leading woman freedom fighter.

To facilitate the visit of the President and other VIPs to Kirti Mandir and Kasturba Memorial, the entry of general visitors was restricted. The local administration also restricted traffic before president's arrival and departure. The shops near Kirti Mandir were asked to remain closed till the President's visit.

The President also visited Arya Kanya Girls Gurukul in Porbandar, where girls welcomed her and presented her an oil painting of Kirti Mandir. She also watched the girls present traditional dances and sing the national anthem. Patil also offered puja at the historical Lord Krishna temple at Dwarka in Jamnagar district on Friday morning.

"The President offered puja and had 'darshan' at the Dwarkadhish temple. She took a round of the entire temple area," said Dwarkadhish Temple board vice-chairman and Rajya Sabha member, Parimal Nathwani.

Subsequently, the President held a meeting with the temple board and district authorities regarding development of the temple and the town. "She asked the authorities to create infrastructural facilities at the temple and in Dwarka town for tourists," said Minister Saurabh Patel.

In afternoon, she reached Junagadh and watched world-famous Asiatic lions in the Gir forest and in night she watched Junagadh's Siddi tribe's traditional dance.

Sasan Gir National Park Forest Sanctuary Junagadh District News Gujarat India

1,500 trees face the chop in Gir forest.

The state government which has been fighting tooth and nail for the exclusive custody of the Asiatic lions in the Gir forest has ordered cutting of over 1,500 trees to make room for residential plots. The land which has to be cleared of the trees is a territory of a pride of 6-7 lions.

The land, which spans over seven-acres, is surrounded by the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary on three sides, in the Rupayatan forest area of Bhavnath taleti in Junagadh City. About 450 reserve and 1,100 non-reserve trees are likely to be chopped down next week to make space for the construction of new houses.

These houses are to be built there for families who will be displaced during the clearing of the area around the Bhavnath temple. The land was lying unused for nearly 40 years and was acquired very recently from the Rupayatan Trust.

The proposal has aroused the ire of environment activists, botanists and residents of the region who believe the project would lead to 'deforestation' and do immense harm to the lions' habitat. Moreover, cutting down trees, some of which are over 40 years old, would lead to irreparable loss for the flora and fauna of the area.

Retired agriculture scientist Professor Rasik Bhatt of Junagadh University says people were alarmed when the project was announced last month. "Because of the dense forest, lions rest there during summer," he said. "There is another, smaller plot that we asked the Collector to consider for construction of the houses. That would have ensured that the lions will not be disturbed and deforestation would not take place."

Junagadh collector Ashwini Kumar conceded that some trees will be cut but refused to specify how many. He also conceded that the area is 'frequented' by lions. He, however, insisted that the plot is ideal for rehabilitating the displaced families and that wildlife conservation cannot be done at the cost of human life.

Junagadh District News – Sasan Gir Forest

Was lion's land sold illegally?

Is the lions' abode up for sale, and by none other than the forest and revenue departments? It may appear so as shocking details emerge in a case filed in the Gujarat high court by one of the holders of a plot of land. The forest department and revenue department on Thursday furnished details about the 588 private owners of such plots of land.

Of the total 588 allotted plots of land, 300 plots have been sneaked into the hands of people who are not Maldharis.

The most shocking part perhaps is that at least 42 square km area of land adjoining the sanctuary in eight talukas along the circumference of the lions' abode has been sold off.

This list of those holding the 300 plots is possibly dotted with high profile businessmen, influential politicians and their kin. What has come out in the documents presented in the court by forest and revenue authorities is that these transactions have happened with their knowledge and consent.

This land is considered sacrosanct as well as extremely valuable due to its proximity to the Asiatic lions' habitat. This revenue land had been sought by the forest department to rehabilitate the Maldharis living inside the sanctuary area to create more space for the lions.

However, over the past two decades, 588 plots of land, each of 2.5 hectares, was sold off by these Maldharis, who then returned to dwell inside the forest sanctuary area.

The land when allotted to them was under the new tenure, under which they could not resell it to a non-tribal, non farmer entity. However, sometime after the allotment, the status of the land was changed to old tenure by the mamlatdar, under which sale was allowed to private entities. One such private owner Anil Chudasama had filed a petition in the High Court after he was stopped from tilling his land in Mendarda taluka, very close to the sanctuary. Justice MR Shah, who heard the case took serious note about such transfer of land.

The next hearing of the case is scheduled on Friday.There are contradictions between the forest department and revenue department's figures about the land that was sold under resettlement scheme.

According to an affidavit filed by the forest department, of the total 588 plots of land, some 300 plots of land have been sold by converting it into old tenure. 250 land plots are with Maldharis who are the original allotees and possession of 10 land stretches have been confiscated by the department.

However there is no mention about the rest 28 plots. On the other hand according to an affidavit filed by the Junagadh collector, 279 plots have been sold to various third parties in eight talukas of Junagadh.

Junagadh District News-Gir National Park(Sasan Forest)

Maldharis back in forest?

The forest department of the Gir, which is conserving lion habitat, has come under scanner after being accused of conniving with Maldharis.

The Maldharis, who continue to reside in the forest area despite getting land elsewhere in the government's resettlement scheme, are being encouraged by forest officials to stay rooted in the reserved forest area, claimed Anil Chudasama, who moved a petition against forest department in the high court on Thursday.

Chudasama had brought a land plot in Mendarda through registered sale deed from ancestors of one Maldhari Raja Amra Rabari. Chudasama approached the court after the forest officials stopped him from doing any activities on the plot.

“Heirs of Raja Amra who are residing at Gangajalia ness (habitat of Maldharis in forest) are occupying the forest area along with their families and cattle herd. The forest department slaps small fines on them from time to time without prosecuting them," alleged Chudasama in affidavit.

"Similarly, many other Maldharis have sold their land and stay in Gangajalia nes, Vanivav ness, Kathi Alwadi ness and Amrutwell ness," said Chudasama.

Interestingly, the forest department had also moved the high court for obtaining permission to remove Maldharis from the reserved area. The court had, however, turned down the request saying the government already had power to do so.

Chudasama, however, alleged that Maldharis were staying in reserved forest area with the blessings of forest department.

According to the details furnished by the collector of Junagadh, 279 transactions have taken place over the land in eight talukas of Junagadh - 21 in Mendarda, 49 in Talala, 10 in Keshod, 103 in Mangrol, 41 in Visavadar, 11 in Manavadar, four in Malia and 40 in Una.

On the other hand, the forest department data say 300 plots have been sold to the third party in those talukas.

Source Link :- http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=126220

Junagadh District News – Gir National Park,Sasan Gir Jungle Tourism

Tourist inflow to the Gir National Park in Gujarat, the world's only natural habitat for the rare majestic Asiatic lions, has dipped due to the intense heat.

This year several factors have affected the number of tourists and wildlife enthusiasts from visiting the sanctuary.Apart from the rise in mercury, global recession and the Indian Premier League cricket tournament have distracted the prospective visitors to this place.

Consequently, allied services such as hotels, travel agents and taxi operators have been adversely hit.

"Due to the heat and the IPL cricket matches, the tourist inflow is less. There are about 70 vehicles here. Sometimes we take one or two trips to the Park, but now it is even once in three to four days sometimes. The business is quite bad," said Rafiq, a taxi driver.

However, the officials manning the sanctuary sounded optimistic by saying that this is just a seasonal phenomenon and the tourist inflow would increase when the heat decreases.

They also pointed out that there is a particular time to visit the park as such tourist inflow is not that bad.

"For the time being this maybe the reason. But we are getting more tourists. Everyday the number is increasing. And there is a time to visit the forest," said Sandeep Kumar Singh, Divisional Forest Officer, Gir National Park.

Established in the year 1965, the Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary covers a total area of 1412 kilometers (about 258 kilometers for the fully protected area (the National Park) and 1153 kilometers for the Sanctuary).

This region is regarded as one of the most important protected areas in Asia.