Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve - Equitable Tourism Options

commodification of natural resources such as land, water and trees and
minor forest produce are the areas of contradiction between the local
people and industry. Disrupting the course of migratory routes in the
elephant corridor in Masinagudi, Bokkapuram, Anaikkatty, and
Thuvaipathy areas is also posing a danger to the existence of elephants
and creating man-animal conflicts.
There are ongoing discussions with the unsettled issue of displacement
and negation of traditional and historic rights to the forest community when
colonial laws were introduced in the country. The fast depletion of forests
and thereby the flora and fauna has put people concerned with
conservation, the government and the development ofthese forest areas at
loggerheads. Tourism is yet another entry into these already heated
turmoil.
The indigenous people and their rights issue today are more assertive and
political. The forest laws have not been able to match the demands of the
community. Therefore it is quite logical when the community raise the
legitimacy of tourism in the forest region, whereby another new actor
comes to these regions, while issues that the community raised still remain
unresolved. Also the fact that the tourism industry is able to bypass the laws
if they wish to had angered the community. This was evident in the Taj -
Nagarahole National Park in Karnataka. While the community was up in
arms against the displacement, the forest department allowed a three star
hotel inside the national park in vwlation to the Wild life (Protection) Act,
1972 is a pointer to the ongoing debate and to see on whose side the
balance tilts.
The extent to which forests and ecologically sensitive regions need to be
open for tourism with the adding pressures is yet another area of concern.
The very fact that protected areas does not allow human intervention is
challenged by tourism. Carving out tourism zones out of protected areas is
the new trend. But even then would this be able to withstand the tourist
pressure is under debate. The creation of tourism zones within protected
areas gives legitimacy to tourism inside. Currently, the Forest laws regulate
this activity to some extent. As tourism gains more momentum, and 100%
FDI accorded to tourism by the Central Government, the chances of these
areas getting privatised become more probable (like heritage sites now
being privatised, e.g., Taj Mahal.)
£Quotkm
Nilagiris: Fading Glory 14