"Buffer zones are being delayed in several states to protect political interests. Though the situation in Maharashtra is good, with buffer zones around Pench, Tadoba and Melghat notified two years ago, Sahyadri buffer is being delayed," said Nana Khamkar, an NGO working to save Sahyadri.
States have been granted three weeks to notify buffers and file comments on utilization and restrictions in core and buffer areas.
The petition by Ajay Dubey of Prayatna, Bhopal, will come up for final arguments on August 22. Even Dubey believes buffer zones should be notified and tourism shifted there, so core areas remain inviolate (completely devoid of humans).
However, Kishor Rithe, president, Satpuda Foundation, feels unless villages inside reserves are relocated, these areas cannot become inviolate. The pressure of villagers inside the parks is more than tourists, he said.
The ban on tourism will have severe implications for Vidarbha's three tiger reserves.
"Our tourism infrastructure is just coming up. For 4-5 tiger reserves with high-end tourism, all reserves in India cannot be punished. You need site-specific measures," Rithe said. Read the full report here.
Source: Vijay Pinjarkar, TNN, Nagpur.
