Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: The Central government yet again, on Wednesday, filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court asking to lift the ban on tourism in core areas of tiger reserves.
“Tourism must be allowed in 20% core areas”, the government stated in the new guidelines submitted to the apex court.
The government also stated that states must evolve guidelines to protect tiger habitats.
In an earlier hearing, the Supreme Court had rapped the Centre for taking a U-turn and urging the court to review its July 24 interim order banning tourism in core areas of tiger reserves.
The SC had passed the interim ban orders only after going thorough the guidelines framed by National Tiger Conservation Authority and the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
In its affidavit, the government had claimed that the ban on tourism would not only lead to loss of livelihood for several persons but also pose threat to wildlife and forests in the country. The court had then asked the government to present the plan that it intends to implement for tourism in the tiger reserves.
First Published: Wednesday, September 26, 2012, 15:09