Amit Batla
letters@hindustantimes.com
Dehradun The Uttarakhand Forest Department on Sunday booked two temple committee officials at Rajaji Tiger Reserve for allowing preparations for the wedding of state government minister Khajan Das’s son within the core area of the reserve and opened an investigation into the blunder, officials said.
After a dispute over this issue, the minister moved the wedding venue outside Rajaji Park.
The arrangements have emerged at the Sureshwari Devi Temple in the Haridwar range of the reserve. Pictures and videos of the setup went viral on social media, prompting the forest department to dismantle the tents and related materials on Saturday evening. Subsequently, the park officials filed a case against the temple committee officials under the Wildlife Protection Act. The wedding was scheduled for Sunday.
Das, the Rajpur Road MP who holds the social welfare and minority affairs portfolios, dismissed the row as a political conspiracy. He claimed that he informed a senior forest official about the event and arrangements were made with the approval of the temple committee. However, forest officials insisted that no permission had been obtained to hold such an event in the core area of the reserve.
Rajeev Dhiman, conservator of forests (Shivalik) and acting director of Rajaji Tiger Reserve, said the investigation was underway after the department acted quickly as soon as it was alerted.
“We have started an investigation into the matter. A forest case has been registered against the temple committee officials on how arrangements were made there and the materials have been completely removed from the area,” he added.
“No permission was obtained for this event. We have also issued a showcause notice to the forest staff to explain how the material entered the core area and whether there was any negligence at their level,” Dhiman added. He said action would be taken against anyone else found involved.
A forest official, speaking anonymously, said visits to temples are being regulated under standing orders and directions of the Supreme Court, with movement restricted. “People visit the temple according to their faith. Our staff knew that some events were being held there, but they did not know who it was for. There was no indication that preparations were being made on such a large scale,” he added.
The temple operates under strict rules: fixed worship hours, no movement after those times, limited overnight stays for priests and attendants, prohibition of activities disturbing wildlife or obstructions to animal movement, no loudspeakers, and the temple management’s duty to prevent littering and ensure compliance. Officials said violations entail penalties under the Wildlife Protection Act.
Speaking to the media, Cabinet Minister and Rajpur Road MLA Khajan Das insisted that he informed the forest superintendent about the wedding and everything was approved by the temple committee. He added, “These accusations are politically motivated.”
