Wildlife lovers oppose trek to Khuliya Top

BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, April 29

Munsiyari hoteliers and wildlife lovers have opposed the organisation of trek tours to the Khuliya meadows by the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN). They have expressed fear of possible damage to wildlife and water resources at the 3,500-meter-high meadows, which are also known as the water tower of Munsiyari town.

“If over 10,000 youths trek to Khuliya Top en mass, the eco-system of the meadows will be disturbed, resulting in water scarcity in the town. Rare animals and birds, such as monal and dafia, the state birds, will also disappear,” said Puran Pandey, a hotelier in Munsiyari.

To celebrate the nomination of Khuliya Top as the track of the year by the Youth Hostel of India, the KMVN is organising an adventure camp for youths from across the country and aboard in Munsiyari from May 5.

Khuliya Top in Munsiyari had been named as the track of the year by the Youth Hostel of India, a status that was given to Dayara Bugyal in Uttarakashi last year, KMVN sources said.

TS Martolia, KMVN General Manager (tourism), said the adventure camp, to be housed at the Balati farm, near the town, would see participation of over 10,000 youths.

“We have decided to organise trekking by youth groups to Betulidhar, Patalthaur, Namik Milam, Panchachuli, base Burfu, Bogdyar and other places near the town, besides Khuliya Top, to give exposure to Munsiyari as a favourite tourist destination of youth,” Martolia said.

He said besides trekking, the youth would also be given chances to take part in other adventure activities, such as skiing, mountaineering, paragliding, rock climbing and river rafting. “Munsiyari is the only place in the Kumaon region where tourists come round the year, in summer for cool and peaceful Himalayan climate and in the winter to witness snowfall. Even in autumn, Bengali tourists come to the town, giving employment to thousands of locals who cater to them,” he said.

However, wildlife lovers, in a letter to KMVN, have said the ‘trekker mela’ be organised to some other trekking destinations, such as Thamari Kund, Lal Singh Thor, Maheswar Kund, Danadhar and Nanda Devi temple, which were less fragile from wildlife habitation points of view and were also lesser known trekking destinations.