In order to give “inviolate space” to tigers for their undisturbed breeding, the Supreme Court on Tuesday banned all forms of tourism in national tiger reserves with immediate effect, warning states it would take strict action, including imposing fines, if this order was not implemented in letter and spirit.
A bench of Justices Swatanter Kumar and F.M. Ibrahim Kalifulla passed an interim ban order on a note placed on record by amicus curiae Raj Panjwani highlighting how the “inviolate space” of 800-1,200 sq km recommended by the Wildlife Institute of India and National Board of Wildlife for peaceful breeding by a group of 20 tigress and survival of young cubs was disturbed due to tourism in tiger reserves.
Visits by tourists to tiger reserves had in fact adversely affected Project Tiger’s progress, the note said, adding that besides the “inviolate area”, the two conservation bodies had suggested an ecologically sensitive “buffer zone” of 1,000-3,000 sq km around the core inviolate area to sustain dispersal of tigers, surplus prime tiers and old displaced tigers. “Tourism causes disturbance in an inviolate area... Like all biotic disturbances, the core area has to be free of disturbances from tourism as per guidelines issued for Project Tiger,” the note states.
Accepting the amicus curiae’s recommendations, the court directed state governments to prohibit the entry of tourists into all national tiger reserves. “We make it clear that till a final order is passed by this court, the core zones or core areas in tiger reserves will not be used for tourism,” the bench said.
It said if states failed to implement the ban, they would be liable to pay litigation costs at the rate of Rs 50,000 for wasting the court’s time. This cost would be recovered from the principal secretary (forest) personally.