Supreme Court hints at easing ban on tourism in core areas of tiger reserves

NEW DELHI: With politicians and conservationists joining the chorus against complete ban on tourism in tiger reserves, the Supreme Court on Wednesday hinted at taking a relook at its interim order enforcing the restriction but asked the Centre to prepare comprehensive guidelines on commercial activity in core areas with a focus on protecting the big cat after consulting states, experts and other stakeholders.

Asking attorney general G E Vahanvati to prepare the guidelines and submit it to the court by September 27, a bench of Justices A K Patnaik and Swatanter Kumar extended its interim order banning tourism in core areas till then, saying it would decide the future course of action on that day.

Earlier, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), under the ministry of environment and forests, had filed guidelines in Supreme Court suggesting ban on tourism in core areas. Based on the guidelines, the court on July 24, 2012 passed an interim order banning tourism in core areas. This resulted in filing of nearly three dozen applications by states and stakeholders who sought lifting of the ban.

The bench refused to be weighed down by the fervent pleas for lifting of the ban by tour operators who face loss of business as most tiger reserves open for tourists from October 1 after the end of the monsoon. It asked the Centre to explain what prompted it to change its stand.

Vahanvati, who appeared for the ministry, said the primary reason for the Centre to "review" its guidelines was to accommodate requests from states to resolve the conflict over demarcation of core and buffer zones in tiger reserves. He said in many tiger reserves, the demarcation was too diverse between the core and buffer zones, in some it was too large while in others it was miniscule.

Tiger tour operators argued that tourism had actually helped in protecting tigers as wildlife enthusiasts kept poachers at bay. While issuing notice on the applications filed by various groups and individuals, the bench requested Vahanvati to consider their representations before framing guidelines and assured them of a hearing on September 27.

Besides protecting tigers in their natural habitat, the court asked the Centre to consider taking steps to ensure tigers are well maintained in non-forest areas such as zoos.