Uttar Pradesh Opens Eco-Tourism In Core Tiger Reserve Zones, Defying NTCA Directive

Recently, the government of Uttar Pradesh (UP) has developed new tourism policies in the primary zones of its tiger reserves in direct opposition to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)’s already ongoing prohibition against encroaching on these pristine reserves of Nature with the mission of exhibiting their attractive tourism. The Core Areas located in the Tiger Reserves are meant to be free from disturbance. Activities for which these zones are created, are not open to tourism, because the Core Zones are designated for tigers and not for tourist activities, as earlier directed by a 2019 order of the NTCA which followed a ruling by the Supreme Court in 2012 barring the setting up of any new permanent tourism structures within these Core Areas.

Uttar Pradesh Opens Eco-Tourism In Core Tiger Reserve Zones, Defying NTCA Directive

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In contrast, the focus of UP is on developing ecotourism and water-based leisure activities in these regions. For instance, to encourage more tourists, a facility for boating has been constructed at the central part of Pilibhit Tiger Reserve and a bamboo hut has been constructed at Chukha Beach located near the Sharda River.

In addition, it is reported that the government has allocated about INR 38 lakh for the purpose of landscaping and creating parking facilities at Ranipur Tiger Reserve, in order to improve facilities for the tourists. Dudhwa Tiger Reserve has also resumed its jungle safari services and is looking to promote ecotourism in some more wildlife reserves in the state of Uttar Pradesh. These steps come just after the UP Government announced the opening of the eco-tourism season for 2024-25 in all the tiger reserves – Pilibhit, Amangarh, Dudhwa and others – on November 6 this year, which is nine days in advance compared to previous years.

Honourable UP Forest Minister Arun Kumar Saxena revealed the intentions of enhancing the Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary in accordance with the amenities provided in Dudhwa. However, some of the officials, such as Sundhar Kumar Sharma, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), did not offer comments on the decision of UP to keep and even enhance these tourist amenities, especially in core tiger areas. According to the restrictions set forth by the NTCA, the states were supposed to have removed all the permanent tourist facilities from the core zones within five years, this deadline has lapsed recently. But UP did not just keep these facilities; it has spent over Rs 3 crores for the up gradation of the Tharu huts and other tourist centers, and for the construction of new boating area in Sharda Sagar Dam in Pilibhit Tiger Reserve.

Environmentalists and policymakers across states like Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra who are adhering to the NTCA directive are apprehensive about this ruling. While the law prohibits the accommodation of tourists in core areas of the forests of the Maharashtra forest department, and removed all facilities available to them, such core areas in Madhya Pradesh are reserved for operational access only. They argue that in order to effectively maintain the population of tigers it is vital to keep the core zones, since these are the zones that would ensure the least encroachment into the natural environment of these endangered species.

As Uttar Pradesh pursues its objective of developing tourism, it is also understood that the change in this policy will have its adverse effects on the already fragile conservation measures and the nation’s tiger reserves in the near future.