Similipal Reopens for Tourists after One Month Closure Due to Blockade by Locals

Baripada: After remaining closed for a month, Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district reopened for tourists on Wednesday.

The opening of the Similipal Tiger Reserve was facilitated through a meeting on Tuesday that was attended by members of the local outfit Similipal Vikash Parishad, STR officials and Jashipur police. Demands of the outfit were discussed at the meeting.

The national park was temporarily closed for tourists on November 27, when protesters of the outfit blocked its entry points at Jashipur. They demanded the installation of watch towers, mobile network facilities, better roads, and concrete bridges within the national park.

The road blockade affected the entry of visitors to the nature camps.

The deputy director of STR, North Wildlife division Sai Kiran informed at the meeting that the demands of the protesters will be fulfilled under the government-sponsored schemes.