The ban laid on the 41 Indian
tiger reserves has been lifted by National Tiger Conservation Authority of
India (NTCAI) of late to enable tourists and wildlife enthusiasts with the
glimpse of royal predator in their natural turf.
INDIA - November 2nd, 2012 - 31st October,
2012. New Delhi. In what is seen as a major boost to tiger tourism in India,
the Indian Supreme Court has lifted the earlier ban on all tourist activities
in core tiger reserve areas, which had further been extended to September 29,
2012.
The apex court on Tuesday
vacated its interim ban order passed on July 24 and permitted tourism in core
areas. However, the SC has directed all authorities to strictly stick to the
National Tiger Conservation Authority guidelines. The earlier ban was imposed
across 41 tiger reserves that included key areas in Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya
Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
The ban was the result of the
petition filed by a private campaigner seeking a stay on tourist activities in
key areas in a bid to curb poaching. The Court also recognized that tourism
actually helps the cause of conservation by boosting the economy of villages
and giving local populations a stake in the survival of the tiger. This is
bound to propel tourism in the above mentioned states and bound to attract a
much higher tourist footfall. It is notable that states such as Madhya Pradesh
and Uttarakhand have tourism as a major source of revenue.
It is, thus, good news that the
ban has finally been curbed. Following the lift, the National Tiger
Conservation Authority has also announced further guidelines to prevent any
poaching incidents and protect the tiger. The new rules state that no new
tourism infrastructure will be created in the inner areas of the parks. The
rules further stressed that state governments will have six months to present
plans or comply with national guidelines on protecting the tiger. There is also
the proposition of follow ups in form of safety checks and random inspections
to ascertain compliance of all directives set forth by the Supreme Court.
Detailed about Wildlife in
India: http://www.wildlifeindiatours.com/
Source: TRAVPR.COM
