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Music Fest in Tiger Reserve Sparks Court Inquiry
17 Mar
Summary
- High court questioned permission for a music festival in Pench Tiger Reserve.
- Notice issued to forest department seeking explanation for event approval.
- Concerns rise over tourism activities impacting protected forest landscapes.
The Nagpur bench of the Bombay high court has initiated an inquiry into a music festival organized within the Pench Tiger Reserve. Justices Anil Kilor and Raj Wakode issued a notice to the forest department, requiring a response within six weeks concerning the circumstances under which permission for the 'Kolitmara Music Festival' was granted.
The court registered a suo motu Public Interest Litigation after amicus curiae Chetan Sharma formally filed a petition. Promotional materials indicated the festival was planned near the Kolitmara area along a riverbank, with artist performances advertised. Concerns have been mounting over the rise in human-wildlife conflict, yet authorities reportedly prioritized tourism expansion.
This music festival follows the introduction of adventure sports and boating activities in the Kolitmara region approximately a year ago. The PIL highlights anxieties regarding the cumulative impact of such tourism endeavors on the sensitive ecosystem of the protected forest landscape.
