A Supreme Court bench comprising Justices A.K. Patnaik and Swatenter Kumar made it clear that the matter of tourism-related activites in core areas of tiger habitats would continue to be heard further and also said any party aggrieved by the guidelines would have the liberty to challenge the same before the appropriate authority.
The bench’s direction came after additional solicitor-general Indira Jaising informed the court that the notification was formally issued on October 15 for 41 tiger reserves across India.
The apex court had on October 9 asked the Centre to notify within a week its fresh guidelines on tiger conservation.
On July 24, the court had banned all tourist activities in core areas of tiger reserves on a PIL filed by conservationist Ajay Dubey.
The PIL had demanded removal of commercial tourism activities from core or critical tiger habitats in tiger reserves.
In its guidelines, the government has said that for preserving the tiger population, no new tourism infrastructure should be created. The Centre has said a maximum of 20 per cent of core/critical tiger habitat usage, not exceeding the present usage, may be permitted for regulated and low-impact tourist visitation.
The guidelines said permanent tourist facilities located inside core/critical tiger habitats, which are being used for wildlife tourism, should be phased out as per a time frame.
The Centre has also suggested a rehabilitation programme for tribals living around the core areas to save the endangered animal from traditional hunting.
Among other measures, the guidelines envisage keeping visitors at a distance of at least 20 metres from all forms of wildlife and prohibiting them from luring or feeding any wildlife.