MP order violating forest laws: Jairam

NEW DELHI: Union environment and forests minister Jairam Ramesh has told the Madhya Pradesh government that its recent order to open national parks, sanctuaries and tiger reserves to tourism are in violation of the Wildlife Protection Act, the Forest Conservation Act and Supreme Courtorders.

In a letter written to state chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Ramesh has also made a veiled threat pointing out that the tiger reserves are run by central funds and the recent orders by the state's chief wildlife warden would violate the rules under which such funding is provided.

The Union minister's letter comes a day after TOI highlighted that the MP government had decided to turn forest guards into guides and their beat offices in the core of tiger reserves and sanctuaries into tourist accommodation.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/MP-order-violating-forest-laws-Jairam/articleshow/6272299.cms