Efforts on to promote national parks better
| Date :02-Sep-2019 |
By Ankita Garg :
MADHYA Pradesh Forest Department is making efforts to increase tourism capacity of national parks, tiger reserves and wildlife sanctuaries. Though the Government has to grant permission from court but proposal for the same is continuously being forwarded by authorities. The Government has planned to increase several tourism activities along with ease to the coordinator of jungle resorts. In a recent meeting with forest officials, the Government has made several proposals to attract tourists with cheaper entry price. A committee has also been formed to increase tourism activities that generate revenue. The committee will be submitting its report to the Government by September 15. Sources said there are already two committees of State Wildlife Board and staring under chairmanship of the Chief Minister. A proposal was made by officials to form a separate board under chairmanship of former Chief Minister Digvijay Singh to increase the tourism of tiger reserves by Rs 2000 crore.
However, wildlife wing of MP Forest Department opposed the committee but final decision over the proposal is yet to be taken by the authorities. Sources said that the Government will be increasing tourism pressure of tiger reserves and wildlife sanctuary to generate revenue. Recently, reports of Research Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, revealed that breeding capacity of tigress getting affected and tigers are being bothered due to increasing pressure of tourism in Kanha and Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserves. The study was made by CCMB from October 2014 to June 2015. Talking to ‘The Hitavada’ Alok Kumar, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (APCCF) said, “We are following all guidelines of the court and authorities.
Tourism capacity for all tiger reserves is decided by the Government and we are following it.” He further added that based on guidelines of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Supreme Court of India said to keep tourism of core areas of national park by 20 per cent. Where tourism is below 20 per cent should wind up at the level and do not increase capacity. State Wildlife Board works on use and development work of forest land and tourism of national parks while steering committee discusses development issue of tiger reserves. Last committee was formed from 2014 to 2017 and now a new committee will be formed soon. Member of the State Wildlife Board Valmik Thapar suggested forming a third board.