In July, the Supreme Court had banned tourism in core areas of all 41 tiger reserves in the country based on an existing policy of the Centre. The ban was imposed after states failed to comply with the Centre's notification that tourism in these core areas be phased out.
Today various state governments argued that the stay should be lifted because it is hurting the economy of the states with the tourist season beginning on 1 October.
Centre wanted the court to give its approval on the revised guidelines.
But the Supreme Court said that this case arose out of an interim order of the Madhya Pradesh high court and it can't validate or invalidate the guidelines. It however asked the government to notify the guidelines soon.
The centre said it will notify the guidelines as early as tomorrow itself.
Kerala and Madhya Pradesh wanted the Sabarimala temple and Satpura temple area to be kept away from the guidelines.
The court assured the two states and said, "we will not disturb and ensure the guidelines doesn't affect the temple."
During the last hearing, the government of Kerala and devotees of Sabarimala shrine had opposed any move to regulate or control the movement of pilgrims and vehicles to the temples in sanctuaries. The Sabarimala shrine is situated inside the Periyar tiger sanctuary. Read the full report here.
Source: Reported by A Vaidyanathan, Edited by Amit Chaturvedi, NDTV, New Delhi.
