Mail News Service
Jamshedpur: Senior BJP leader Ankit Anand has strongly opposed the recent hike in rental charges for cottages and rest houses in the Dalma forest area, calling it an unjust and regressive move. He criticized the Forest Development Authority’s decision to increase the accommodation charges by Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000, stating that it sets a “wrong precedent” and discourages tourism.
Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Anand voiced concerns over the move, saying, “Dalma, a scenic and historic destination, is being made inaccessible to the common people. Doubling the rent destroys the very purpose of promoting eco-tourism. There are already restrictions on private vehicles and bikes—this hike adds to the list of barriers.”
He labelled the decision an “undeclared plan” to reduce tourist footfall and demanded immediate intervention from the Central Ministry of Environment and Forests, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and State Tourism Minister Sudivya Kumar. Anand argued that such a critical decision should have been made in consultation with public representatives, MPs, MLAs, departmental ministers and local civil society members.
Suggesting a more measured approach, he recommended a phased tariff increase, starting with minimal revisions subject to public feedback. He has urged the Forest Development Authority to reconsider the decision and revoke the current resolution. Anand emphasized that the focus should be on increasing tourist numbers through strategic planning rather than imposing financial barriers.
His statement has sparked a conversation among locals and tourism stakeholders about the need for transparent and inclusive decision-making processes concerning public-access tourist spots
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