NTCA's ecotourism guidelines challenged

By Vijay Pinjarkar, TNN | Dec 19, 2012, 03.47 AM IST Supreme Court lifts ban on tiger tourismSariska set to get three more tigersForest department seeks 1.25cr for buffer zone in PilibhitVED intervenes in tourism ban pleaTourism sector awaiting SC verdict as wildlife sanctuaries reopen on... NAGPUR: The Pench Jungle Lodges Federation has challenged the fresh comprehensive ecotourism guidelines issued by National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), a statutory body under the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF). The guidelines were notified on October 15, in the backdrop of Supreme Court hearing on a petition demanding ban on tourism in core areas of tiger reserves. The Jabalpur high court on Friday issued notices to Central and Madhya Pradesh governments and NTCA asking them to file a reply. The petitioner federation has challenged the NTCA direction to the states to appoint local advisory committee (LAC) which would take a final call on tourism in tiger reserves. "NTCA has no powers to ask states to appoint LAC. What is the need for a LAC when there is already a steering committee under respective chief ministers and state forest ministers? Besides, there is also a panel for Tiger Conservation Foundations (TCFs)," asked petitioner's counsel Rahul Diwaker. The petition says that many of the representatives like block development officers (BDOs), subdivisional officers (SDOs) among others to be appointed to the committee are persons who have no knowledge about tourism and conservation. The federation has also challenged the park management's decision to cut carrying capacity of vehicles to Pench Tiger Reserve by 50%. Earlier, 130 tourist vehicles were allowed inside Pench from three gates. However, after the Supreme Court decision, the capacity has been cut to 65 vehicles. Similar steps have been taken in Bandhavgarh and Kanha tiger reserves. In Pench, the park management reduced the carrying capacity following NTCA guidelines prescribing tourism in 20% area only of the core of tiger reserves. "Pench has reduced tourism area from existing 36% to 20% and reduced the length of routes from 145km to 112km. Hence, the number of vehicles was also halved," said Pench officials. The petitioner federation says the carrying capacity of vehicles was calculated on the basis of breeding of wild animals and impractical reasons. There is no scientific evidence to prove that tourist vehicles affect breeding of animals, the petition said. The petition has also challenged move to charge conservation fee of Rs500 to Rs3,000 per room per month from resorts. "The resort owners are already paying 35% taxes towards food licence, lease, pollution control, etc. Why the fresh tax?" says the petitioner. The NTCA guidelines have also stated that tourism needs to be phased out from core to buffer. However, this is impossible without developing the buffer zones. "First develop the buffer and then only curtail tourism in the core," said Diwaker. The matter is slated to be heard in January 2013. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/NTCAs-ecotourism-guidelines-challenged/articleshow/17671813.cms