By Aadharsh | ENS - KALPETTA 24th December 2012 08:10 AM
District Collector K Gopalakrishna Bhat on Sunday issued a memo stopping the ‘joy-ride’ helicopter service offered by the Boby Chemmanur Airlines.
Acting on a complaint filed by South Wayanad DFO O P Dhaneshkumar, alleging that the helicopter service, over the skies of the Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary, has been a concern of ‘habitat distraction’, the Collector served the notice on the operator.
The DFO had submitted a plea to the District Collector, Additional District Magistrate and the Sulthan Bathery Tahsildar, seeking stop-memo against the ‘distracting service’. He has also asked the district authorities not to grant clearance for any such activities in the district in compliance with the Wildlife Protection Act. Reportedly, the Boby Chemmanur Airlines would move the court against the Collector’s order.
“The clearance granted to the Boby Chemmanur Airlines to undertake commercial activities in Wayanad has been dismissed.
“The operator has already grounded the chopper,” District Collector K Gopalakrishna Bhat told Express.
“There was one more proposal from another tour operator seeking clearance for similar operations, but it has been withdrawn in view of the latest development,” the Collector said.
According to N Badusha of Wayanad Prakruthi Samrakshana Samithi, the unmindful commercial activity has left the wild animals in the area panicky.
“Even the domestic animals showed signs of restlessness due to the deafening noise of the low-flying chopper,” he said, adding that the district authorities should have shown discretion while giving the nod to such an activity.
“The helicopter service was launched around 9am on Saturday from the helipad at St Mary’s College in Sulthan Bathery.
And after about an hour, a tiger attack on a man was reported from Kattayad, about 2kms away from the town. I strongly believe that the booming noise of the chopper might have driven the tiger out of its territory,” he said.
The Boby Chemmanur Airlines had acquired no-objection certificates from the Revenue Department and the Police Department before launching the operation.
The air tour, a first-of-its-kind in Wayanad, was offered from 9.30 am to 5 pm at a cost of `2,700 per person for a 10-minute ride. The chopper service was scheduled till December 25.
Source: http://newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/article1391919.ece
District Collector K Gopalakrishna Bhat on Sunday issued a memo stopping the ‘joy-ride’ helicopter service offered by the Boby Chemmanur Airlines.
Acting on a complaint filed by South Wayanad DFO O P Dhaneshkumar, alleging that the helicopter service, over the skies of the Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary, has been a concern of ‘habitat distraction’, the Collector served the notice on the operator.
The DFO had submitted a plea to the District Collector, Additional District Magistrate and the Sulthan Bathery Tahsildar, seeking stop-memo against the ‘distracting service’. He has also asked the district authorities not to grant clearance for any such activities in the district in compliance with the Wildlife Protection Act. Reportedly, the Boby Chemmanur Airlines would move the court against the Collector’s order.
“The clearance granted to the Boby Chemmanur Airlines to undertake commercial activities in Wayanad has been dismissed.
“The operator has already grounded the chopper,” District Collector K Gopalakrishna Bhat told Express.
“There was one more proposal from another tour operator seeking clearance for similar operations, but it has been withdrawn in view of the latest development,” the Collector said.
According to N Badusha of Wayanad Prakruthi Samrakshana Samithi, the unmindful commercial activity has left the wild animals in the area panicky.
“Even the domestic animals showed signs of restlessness due to the deafening noise of the low-flying chopper,” he said, adding that the district authorities should have shown discretion while giving the nod to such an activity.
“The helicopter service was launched around 9am on Saturday from the helipad at St Mary’s College in Sulthan Bathery.
And after about an hour, a tiger attack on a man was reported from Kattayad, about 2kms away from the town. I strongly believe that the booming noise of the chopper might have driven the tiger out of its territory,” he said.
The Boby Chemmanur Airlines had acquired no-objection certificates from the Revenue Department and the Police Department before launching the operation.
The air tour, a first-of-its-kind in Wayanad, was offered from 9.30 am to 5 pm at a cost of `2,700 per person for a 10-minute ride. The chopper service was scheduled till December 25.
Source: http://newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/article1391919.ece
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