CMs and state forest ministers are writing to the Centre demanding tourism remain unfettered in their territories. The environment minister and wildlife officers in the Paryavaran Bhawan are flooded with calls. Forest officials in states have turned unsure of whether tigers bring tourists to their forests or tourism protects the animal.
The guidelines, have got the tourism groups and the state governments up in arms and hectic lobbying is on.
Conservationists have warned that under the ruse of court-imposed deadline, state governments are violating the Wildlife Protection Act and the Forest Rights Act to demarcate the buffers, overriding provisions of these laws which protect the rights of the poor in vicinity of the wildlife zones. Ironic, many point out, since the same state governments are preparing affidavits and writing letters to protect tourism in tiger reserves.
Officials warn that land around tiger reserves are quietly being hived off in unnamed transactions to bypass land-transfer rules. Farmers and tribals with little other option are selling their land than facing the brunt of forest-rule.
Top lawyers are engaged by various 'interested' parties. Some other conservationists and tribal groups are holding meetings to discuss how to tackle the fallout of the apex court's final decision, which is likely soon. Ironically, amid this hubbub, tribals and poor farmers, who live in proximity to tiger, are caught in the legal cross fire, and are fast becoming collateral damage.
Meanwhile, left with no opportunity to go on a tiger safari, tourists who had made advance bookings at various jungle resorts are besieging offices to get refunds.
Between July 25 and August 10, Jungle Lodges and Resorts in Kabini, Karnataka refunded Rs 37 lakh to around 1,200 people, who had made advance bookings. Staff at the accounts and sales wings of JLR said the last 15 days had been hectic. In some instances, customers sought refund of only the safari amount, while several customers wanted the entire package charge returned.
A few optimists are yet to cancel their bookings, in the hope that the Supreme Court may reverse the decision in its final order to be pronounced on August 22.
The monsoon offseason discount had subsequently spiked bookings in the four properties. Following the apex court ban, occupancy at Kabini dropped from almost 100 per cent to 30 per cent, while Bandipur saw a fall from 70 to 20 per cent, said R K Singh, executive director of JLR.
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