Travel Nepa

Chitwan resorts can operate till mid-2012
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the legislature parliament has directed the government to allow the seven resorts inside Chitwan National Park (CNP), a UNESCO world heritage site, to operate until July 15, 2012.

A meeting of the PAC held on September 12 also made it clear that no hotel, lodge or resort will be allowed to operate inside the park under any condition after the given deadline. The committee said it decided to allow resorts to operate till mid 2012 keeping view the upcoming Nepal Tourism Year 2011 campaign.

If the resorts decide to shift outside the national park within a year, they will be allowed to provide their services from outside the park under a new contract for five years.

The CNP had ordered seven jungle resorts – Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge, Narayani Safari, Temple Tiger Jungle Lodge, Machan Widlife Camp, Island Jungle Resort, Chitwan Jungle Lodge and Gaida Wildlife Camp – to stop operation after their lease contract expired on July 15.

The PAC has also directed the government to recover royalty, conservation fee, VAT, income tax and fine amounts within a month, before allowing them to resume operations.