Despite several efforts by the Forest department to conserve the tigers, no feline has been sighted in the Satpura tiger reserve in past several years. locals claim that heavy inflow of tourists in the region is the main reason behind this.
A prominent industrialist had recently visited a tiger reserve of Madhya Pradesh and expressed disappointment for not having sighted a tiger.A local resident, told that in July when on the directives of the Supreme Court, tourism was banned in Pachmarhi, wild animals were seen moving in core forest areas, particularly in Beefall and Dhoopgarh areas. However, only bisons, bears and dears were visible.
Since,the directives of the Apex Court, the State government has to submit tourism plan in core forest areas by April 16.In October, the Supreme Court had lifted ban on tourism asking the States to follow the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) guidelines that states that only 20 percent of the core forest areas could be allowed for tourism. RTI activist and environmentalist Ajay Dubey, on whose PIl the Supreme Court has reacted on tourism in forest areas, told ‘The Pioneer’ that it was certain that the peace of the forests has disturbed with the inflow of tourists in the core forest areas. “Now, it has to be seen, as how the State government plans to allow tourism in 20 per cent of core forest areas. The forest department would have to mark places that fall in 20 per cent area,” he added.