Forest officials failed to take action against the private zoo in the bungalow of former BJP MLA Harvansh Singh Rathore and the crocodile growing in it. The reason for this was that the officer had complicated the matter regarding the jurisdiction of the bungalow.
By Prashant Pandey
Published Date: Wed, 15 Jan 2025 07:50:05 AM (IST)
Updated Date: Wed, 15 Jan 2025 07:56:49 AM (IST)
HighLights
- Private zoo and crocodiles found in former MLA’s bungalow.
- Forest officials remained confused about the jurisdiction of the bungalow.
- The crocodiles were released in the sanctuary after the IT raid.
Naiduniya Representative, Sagar. Forest officials made every effort to ensure that no action was taken against the private zoo in the bungalow of former BJP MLA Harvansh Singh Rathore and the crocodile growing in it. For the last 42 years, the authorities were confused about the jurisdiction of that bungalow.
The Northern Forest Division continued to call it a part of the South and the South Forest Division continued to call it a part of the North. After the Income Tax Department’s raid on the bungalow this month, for the first time the news reached across the country that crocodiles had been reared in that bungalow.
The joint team had rescued the crocodiles.
After two days of silence, on January 10, a joint team of the Forest Department reached there and caught two crocodiles and released them in a pond of Rani Durgavati Sanctuary. On January 11 also, two crocodiles were removed from there.
Now South Forest Division is talking about investigation
After the completion of this campaign, when it came to action, both the North and South Forest Divisions refused to accept it as their jurisdiction. In the circle level meeting on Monday, it was decided that the action has to be taken by the South Forest Division. After that the South Forest Division is talking about investigation.
No board to indicate boundaries
In fact, till the year 1982, there used to be only one forest division in the district. After this it was divided into two divisions, North Forest Division and South Forest Division. After this division, no board was installed to clarify the boundaries of the two. Some areas adjacent to Sagar Nagar remained entangled in these boundaries. Rathore bungalow was also included in this.
The officers posted here took advantage of this and did not clarify the jurisdiction. Rathore Bungalow is built at one end of the Cantonment Board. From where the North Forest Division is visible at a distance of a few steps. There is no indicator here to determine the boundaries of forest divisions. Pagara village is nearest to Rathore bungalow, it is the beat of North Forest Division.
Forest officers kept coming and going in the bungalow
People associated with Rathore Bungalow say that this zoo was in the knowledge of the Forest Department. Senior officials of the Forest Department have also been coming and going to the bungalow. No one ever took any objection. It has come to light that the officers of Northern Forest Division have been coming and going in this bungalow the most.
officers are under pressure
The pressure of the political influence of the former MLA is so much that till now no forest officer has gone towards Rathore bungalow even for questioning. Statements of the priest of Kailash temple located there and other members of the temple committee have been taken. Ranger Ravi Singh Bhadauria of South Forest Division said that statements of the priest and other members of the temple committee have also been taken in the crocodile case. The investigation is still going on.
Border disputes have been arising in some other areas
According to the information, there are areas like Bhainsa, Kaparia, Bhaisa Pahari etc. of Sagar which were included in the Northern Forest Division, but here also there has been a delay in the action due to the border dispute. Similarly, on Bhopal road also there is the border of North Forest Division, but the situation of Ratauna, Bhatuapara etc. areas coming up to the city limits of Sagar is not clear.
