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New Delhi, Sept. 26 (PTI): The government today requested the Supreme Court to allow “regulated, low-impact” tourist activities in up to 20 per cent of critical tiger habitats as part of efforts to promote tourism, banned from core reserve areas following an interim order.
The Centre also said no “new” tourist infrastructure should be created in the core areas to protect tigers, estimated to number over 1,700 in the country.
The suggestions were part of fresh guidelines the government has come up with for states following the court’s July 24 ban on all commercial activities in the core areas.
“It is recommended that a maximum of 20 per cent of the core/critical tiger habitat usage (not exceeding the present usage) may be permitted for regulated, low-impact tourist visitation,” the Centre said.
If the current use exceeded 20 per cent, the local advisory committee, the Centre added, “may decide on a time frame for bringing (it) down … to 20 per cent”.
The government said such areas might be demarcated as tourism zones. “Further, no new tourism infrastructure should be created in the core areas.”
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