Two new important bird areas (IBAs) — Sirpur Lake in Indore and Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve — have been added to the existing list of IBAs in Madhya Pradesh.

National Green Tribunal (NGT), Bhopal bench, has served notices to the state government for violation of environmental laws in issuance of lease for sand mining in Betul and Hoshangabad districts.

Madhya Pradesh has won the best state tourism award for comprehensive development of tourism sector.

The Madhya Pradesh government has proposed 15 eco-sensitive zones around its wildlife sanctuaries and parks, where illegal commercial activities including mining will be prohibited.

The Madhya Pradesh government on Wednesday contended before the Supreme Court that the Centre’s guidelines for regulating tourism in tiger reserves should be modified to meet local conditions, rather than imposing a blanket ban on tourist activities in tiger reserves across the country.

Appearing for the state, former additional solicitor-general Vivek Tankha contended that the government has no problem in implementing the guidelines in spirit but not possible to follow it in letter.

The Supreme Court’s interim order banning tourism in core areas of tiger reserves has taken its toll on Pachmarhi, a picturesque hill station with its major attractions within the core area of Satp

The state government has now modified the entry fee structure for tiger reserves and protected areas. Forest Minister Sartaj Singh gave this information here today.
The Forest Minister said that the fee for Indian tourists for touring all tiger reserves by light vehicles (up to a sitting capacity of 8 persons) has been fixed at Rs one thousand and for foreign tourists at Rs two thousand.

Piparia : The unabated illegal poaching of wild animals in Piparia-Pachmarhi forest range has dealt a severe blow to people's faith in Forest Department's squad. The entire area was rocked by recovery of hide of a black buck in 14 pieces from a Tavera SUV on the other day.