Posted on 2009-07-08
KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation is preparing to award lease contracts for seven resort sites inside Chitwan National Park (CNP) through open competition.
The ministry´s move comes as the 15-year leases of the existing big seven resorts operating inside the park approach their end on July 15.
“Under open competitions for lease contracts, existing resorts can also bid for new leases, besides new aspirants,” said an official of the ministry who requested not to be named.
The official said the new contract period will be for 15 years subject to renewal every five years.
As per existing National Park and Wildlife Conservation Regulations, companies must be selected through open completion for providing services inside the park. “The then government arbitrarily extended lease contracts for the resorts without any open competition, thereby flouting the regulations,” the official added.
Under the new agreement, no permanent structure will be allowed and existing structures must also be relocated.
The seven big resorts operating inside the park are Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge -the first resort of its kind in Nepal, Machan Wildlife Camp, Chitwan Jungle Lodge, Gaida Wildlife Camp, Island Jungle Resort, Hotel Narayani Safari and Temple Tiger.
“A maximum of five years will be given to relocate permanent structures outside the park so that wildlife safaris won´t be affected,” said the source. “Resorts are allowed to set up only tented camps inside the park,” added the source.
A taskforce headed by Madhav Acharya, a joint secretary at MoFSC, had suggested a few months back different models for operating the existing resorts, besides identifying four new resort sites inside the park.
The taskforce had divided resorts into three categories on the basis of the service they can provide and wildlife sightings in their areas.
“We have recommended annual royalties of Rs 10 million and Rs 8 million for categories A and B respectively where as Rs 6 million is set for category C resorts,” said a member of the panel.The committee had also suggested allowing only tented camps inside the parks, allowing the resorts three years to construct their permanent structures outside the park.
The then government had decided to extend the lease term by 15 years in 1994, drawing criticism from conservationists and civil society who blamed the resorts for destroying bio-diversity inside the park. The park is listed among UNESCO´s World Natural Heritage sites.
The resorts are paying the government around Rs 30 million in royalty and conservation fees in addition to tourist entrance fees and camping fees. However, they are criticized for dillydallying in revenue payment. A case has been filed at the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority against MoFSC and hoteliers for failing to collect or pay revenue as agreed in the lease contracts.
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