This Article is From Sep 26, 2012

Centre asks Supreme Court to lift ban on tourism in core tiger areas

Centre asks Supreme Court to lift ban on tourism in core tiger areas
New Delhi: The Centre today filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court asking for the ban to be lifted on tourism in core areas of tiger reserves. In the affidavit, the Centre has outlined the revised guidelines to protect the tiger population.

The Centre has asked the Supreme Court to permit tourism activities in 20 per cent of the core tiger habitat. The guidelines also seek the phasing out of permanent tourist facilities located inside the core areas of the reserve in a specified time frame.

The states will be required to enact a law to regulate tiger tourism so that tourist facilities and tour operators do not disturb the animals, the affidavit said.

The Centre also wants 10 per cent of the revenue generated from the pilgrim centres located in the tiger reserve to be used for development of local communities.

In July, the top court had banned tourism in core areas of all tiger reserves in the country based on an existing policy of the Centre. The ban was imposed after states failed to comply with the Centre's notification that tourism in these core areas be phased out.

Facing pressure from the states, the Centre had moved the Supreme Court seeking permission to revise the guidelines and the court gave permission. The Supreme Court will take up the issue tomorrow.

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