Writ at SC seeks stay against lease renewal

KATHMANDU, SEP 06 -

A writ has been filed at the Supreme Court on Wednesday seeking a stay against the renewal of the rental lease agreements of the jungle resorts located inside Chitwan National Park (CNP).

The writ filed by advocate Bijay Kumar Basnet has sought the stay demanding that the hotel should not be allowed to operate inside the CNP. The writ comes immediately after a formation of a committee last week under the Cabinet directives to study whether the hotels should be allowed for operation.  The committee headed by Forest Minister Yadu Bansha Jha has been given 15 days to submit the report with recommendation.  The extended deadline to vacate the land leased by seven hotels and resorts-Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge, Machan Wildlife Camp, Chitwan Jungle Lodge, Gaida Wildlife Camp, Island Jungle Resort, Hotel Narayani Safari and Temple Tiger Hotel-inside CNP expired in mid-July 2012. Among them, Gaida Wildlife Camp stopped operations about two years ago due to labour problems. The seven hotels, whose 15-year contract ended on July 15, 2009, were allowed to operate for another three years considering Nepal Tourism Year 2011. The park, established in 1973, was declared a World Heritage Site in 1984.

Source: The Kathmandu Post