‘States feel ban will affect local people dependent on tourism for livelihood’

Under pressure from various States, the Central government has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court seeking permission to review the guidelines issued under the Wildlife (Protection) Act for the States to ban all tourism activities in core areas of tiger reserve forests. On July 24, a Bench of Justices Swatatner Kumar and Ibrahim Kalifulla imposed the ban, when told that most of the States had not complied with the directions contained in the guidelines.

SC ban hasn’t affected conservation

The theory that a ban on tiger tourism will affect the conservation of the critically endangered big cat was rubbished by the State Forest department, which claimed that it was able to initiate protective measures without funds from tourism. The Supreme Court’s interim order to ban tiger tourism in the last week of July created a flutter. Several wildlife enthusiasts and resort owners predicted almost “the beginning of the end of tiger conservation” in the country. Many of them claimed they supported conservation by sharing their revenue which will add to funds for conservation.

New Delhi: In what could force PM Manmohan Singhto intervene in the raging debate on tiger versus tourism, Valmik Thapar, one of the most prominent tigerwallahs, has demanded that the government’s

SRINAGAR: The State Government today said the Supreme Court has not given any direction to a Special High Powered Committee (SHPC) constituted by the Apex Court for construction of macadamised road

The Supreme Court directive asking the government to build a road to the Amarnath cave shrine and improve infrastructure along it is likely to snowball into a controversy.

Herders of the Tibetan ethnic group are leading the charge in protecting grasslands and biodiversity in their communities, thanks to support from the government and environmental groups.

KOLKATA, 16 AUG: The thermal power plant at Nayachar proposed by NRI investor Prasoon Mukherjee has hit a fresh stumbling block due to environmental concerns raised by the Centre.

Use of plantation land for tourism activities

The ecological impacts of the decision to allow construction of resorts and hotels in plantations will be assessed by the Kerala Forest Department. Minister for Forests K.B. Ganesh Kumar said here that the officials of the department would be asked to look into the possible impacts of the order on forest ecosystems and wildlife. The order was applicable only to private estates and officers stationed near these estates would be put on high alert. Night travel along forest routes to these estates would be regulated.

PANJIM: Finally, the State Forest Policy is expected to see day of light, with state forest department referring the policy for legal vetting.

Forest minister Alina Saldanha said that department has already finalized the policy and has sent to law department for legal vetting. She said that policy is likely to receive green signal shortly, after which it would be implemented.

Kerala government plans to introduce more facilities for tourists at the scenic Arippa forests in the Western Ghats where travellers get a glimpse of wildlife and a unique ecosystem.