Maharashtra minister Ashish Jaiswal has urged lifting the ban on non-vegetarian food in forest rest houses, citing revenue losses. Forest officials remain divided, warning that such a move could harm conservation efforts in ecologically sensitive areas
Ashish Jaiswal, minister of state for finance and planning. Pic/X/@InfoGadchiroli
Maharashtra minister Ashish Jaiswal has urged the forest department to allow non-vegetarian food in rest houses across reserved forests, sanctuaries, and tiger reserves, arguing the ban was driving tourists to private hotels and affecting forest revenue.
Jaiswal, the minister of state for finance and planning, wrote to the office of the state forest minister Ganesh Naik last year in which he argued that while the ban on liquor consumption at the state forest department's facilities may continue, the ban on non-vegetarian food should be lifted as it is “not appropriate” and is causing financial losses to the department.
Additional Principal Chief Conservator (administration) Rishikesh Ranjan, in a letter written on January 27 to various regional offices of the forest department and tiger projects, has sought their views on the issue. Some forest officials, however, have opposed it, saying such facilities lie in ecologically sensitive areas and allowing non-vegetarian food there would undermine wildlife conservation.
Opposing the proposal, a retired divisional forest officer said that restarting non-vegetarian food would amount to neglecting wildlife conservation and protection, noting that such facilities are located in ecologically sensitive areas. As per a policy decision made over a decade ago, consumption of non-vegetarian food and liquor was banned in rest houses in forest areas, and the decision was subsequently incorporated into a government order.
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