Alipurduar, Sept. 21 -- Amid continuing agitation by Jayanti residents over restrictions on tourism activities, the Forest Department held a nearly four-and-a-half-hour meeting with local representatives on Monday. The meeting at the Buxa Tiger Reserve East Division office was chaired by Deputy Field Director Debashish Sharma, a day before Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari's scheduled visit to Alipurduar.

According to residents, forest officials verbally assured them that tourists would be able to travel from Rajabhatkhawa to Jayanti and different areas of Buxa Hills with a single entry pass, without having to return to Rajabhatkhawa repeatedly for separate passes. The residents also raised the issue of overnight stays at homestays in Jayanti and Buxa Hills. They referred to a 2022 National Green Tribunal order, which they claimed has been stayed by the Calcutta High Court until December 31. They argued that tourists staying at homestays in revenue villages should not face restrictions from the reserve authorities.

A forest official said: "We will not comment on a matter that is sub judice."

The residents' other major demands included resuming jeep safaris from Jayanti and reopening the ticket counter there. Forest officials did not give the green signal for either demand at Monday's meeting but assured them that the issues were under consideration.

Forest Minister Manoj Kumar Oraon said: "I have instructed officials to give serious consideration to the demands of the people of Jayanti. I am not in favour of any unrest."

Forest Department sources said the Chief Minister is scheduled to hold a meeting with senior officials at Subhashini Tea Garden on Tuesday to discuss departmental issues.

Ayan Naidu, one of the prominent faces of the Jayanti movement, said: "We have strongly placed our demands before the forest officials. They have given us several assurances. Now we want to see how much their words match their actions. If there is any deviation, the path of agitation remains open."

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.