Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve - Equitable Tourism Options

culturally appropriate, and equitable.
Adivasi Organisations:
Fedina Vikasa at Heggada Devana Kote (H.D.Kote) in Mysore District has
been working with the adivasis, both within and outside the National Park
area, which lies in Mysore District, since more than eight years. They have
actively participated with other groups in establishing the rights of adivasis to
natural resources including the present struggles in National Park area.
Rajya Moola Nivasi Budakattu Janara Vedike . This is the State level
Organisation of adivasis which has taken up issues of central concern to the
adivasis such as the Bhuria Committee Report, scheduling of areas and non
adivasis claiming to be adivasis to corner the benefit.
Budakattu Krishikara Sangha (BKS) covering both Kodagu and Mysore
districts: This premier organisation of adivasis has laid the foundation for
effective coming together of adivasis for both developmental and
environmental matters. Both, these organisations have been working to
organise the Adivasi communities for taking up challenging issues like the
Nagarahole National Park and Taj Resort and have formed the following
group forthis purpose.
Background of Legal Intervention
The NGOs and the Adivasi organisations have protested against the project
and have arranged series of agitations by holding dharnas, resorted to rasta
roko and picketing of Government offices.
The scheduled property forms an integral part of the National Park and is
located close to the core of the park. Extensive damage has already been
done to the bio-culture of the park by seriously affecting the flora and fauna of
the park. Initially it started as a public sector project by KSFIC, the land was
then gradually privatised by putting it into the hands of the Taj Group. The
scheduled property was transferred by the State of Karnataka in favour of
KSFIC asearly as 27/3/75. This property has not been divested from the said
corporation much less was it transferred in favour of the Karnataka Forest
Development Corporation Limited. Be that as it may, after making huge
investments and development of good infrastructure, the property was then
leased in favour of Gateway Hotels and Getaway Resorts in terms of the
lease deed. This was. p1eceded by several orders of the Government
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