Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve - Equitable Tourism Options

dated 21/7/92, 30/8/92 and 1112/93.
The entire project had been conceived and the proceedings were done in a
high Iy secretive manner by holding the details ofthe project from the public.
The Gateway Hotels had started laying new roads to provide access to
every nook and corner of the National Park through motor vehicles, which
would also be a serious source of criminal activity to enable poaching of the
wildlife and removal of the forest produce. This would seriously hamper the
promotion of the wildlife management of the national park with serious
adverse impacts on the social and environmental front.
The proposed project is a three star hotel, mainly to cater to the needs of
international and Indian tourists whose needs are consumptive, especially
when they stay in such lUxury amidst nature. It is a great travesty of justice
that indigenous people have been evicted out and that same area is now
being used to provide holiday lUxury resorts to such tourists. Besides the
disastrous effects that would ensue if the project was commissioned, this
project would be a grave nuisance to the flora and fauna of the area. The
activities, which involve movement of men and materials, installation of
high-sounding generators, throwing of waste from such activities in and
around the park will cause all sorts of pollution. The air and noise pollution
that this project would produce is by itself sufficient to destroy whatever is
left ofthis bio-culture.
The project was for a non-forest purpose and it had been undertaken
notwithstanding the total prohibition against such projects under the law.
The Resort had not taken prior approval of the Central government before
venturing on this project as required Uls 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act,
1980. The project is being commissioned notwithstanding the total
prohibition against such projects under the provisions of the Wildlife
(Protection) Act, 1972, Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and Environment
(Protection) Act, 1986. They have not complied with any of the mandatory
requirements under the said Acts before embarking upon the project.
Grounds for Appeal
• The respondent State and its functionaries are under a
constitutional obligation to protect the wildlife and to preserve
ecology.
•
U/s 35 of the 1 972 Act, a National Park enjoys all the protection of a
39 Nilagiris : Fading Glory