Tour operators and resort owners in North Bengal are worried that bulk bookings would have to be cancelled during the Durga Puja holidays, as an elephant census scheduled for the last week of this month has been postponed to late October 2010. The decision to defer the census has thrown a spanner in the plans of all those involved with tourism. Forest lodges, hotels and bungalows in the Dooars have already been booked for a month from the middle of October but as a rule, visitors are not allowed to enter the forests when an animal census is on.
According to a report in The Telegraph, S B Patel, Chief Conservator of Forests (wildlife), North Bengal said, "Earlier, we had decided that the elephant census in North Bengal forests would be held from September 27 to 29, 2010 and accordingly, preparations were in progress. However, we had to give a second thought to the decision as the monsoon was getting prolonged in the region. It has been decided now that the census will be conducted at the end of October as we expect that the rainy season to be over by then."
Sumita Ghatak, Divisional Forest Officer (wildlife II), said guests wouldn't be allowed in the department's properties during the census period. Visitors also won't be allowed to enter the forests as their presence can affect the census. Patel said the forest department was yet to fix the new dates for the census, but indicated it would be after puja. "Although I am yet to receive further instructions on the matter from higher-ups, the census is likely to take place at the end of next month."
Kamal Bhowmik, Secretary, Lataguri Resort Owners' Association, feared block cancellations. "We had come to know earlier that the forests would remain closed in September end. But we were not worried as the Puja season begins in the first week of October and continues till mid-November. But now that the census has been postponed to October-end, tourism will be hit hard in the Dooars. We are receiving bookings on a large scale and all of them have to be cancelled now. This is one of the best business seasons for us and our earnings would be hit," he said.
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