Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve - Equitable Tourism Options

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Roofing
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Reduce, Reuse and Recycle in areas of water, energy, noise and waste
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Planting of native species
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Education: Guests and Staff
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Commitment to the Society: encouraging ad iva sis to use their traditional
methods of bee-keeping, subsidised boarding and lodging facilities to be
available for students and budget travellers, slide show, library and
trained team of naturalists to ensure an educational trip, a ayurvedic
herbal centre and gift shop that would stock organically grown vegetable
and other items using vegetable dyes and eco-friendly items.
Growing resistance
Organised resistance to various human rights violations emerged in the later
part of 1980s with the emergence of Budakattl,l Krishikara Sangha- an
organisation of Adivasis in the belt. Armed with the draconian Wildlife
Protection Act, 1972, the government and forest department could evict
summarily 6000 Adivasis residing in the areas during the 1970s and 1980s.
With the prospects of the World Bank eco-development project bringing a
bounty in millions of dollars, pressure to force them to abandon their habitats
was stepped up. But organised resistance from the people and support arm
tactics which the forest department adapted at and used to could no longer
be kept hidden from public scrutiny like in the earlier days. The neo-colonial
character and interests of project naturally strengthened the arms of the
state and the forest department against the original inhabitants of
Nagarhole. With increased stake, newer stakeholders began ganging up for
the total colonisation of Nagarhole. With over 30,000 visitors to this high
density wildlife park, the liberalisation of the economy and with the highly
lucrative tourism industry being given favourable terms on a priority basis by
both the centre and state, the Taj group of hotels decided to corner this
mostly untapped (eco)tourism potential even before the inhabitants could be
pushed out with assured support from the Bank.
Murukal Jungle Resort was set up inside Nagarhole close to the core zone by
the Karnataka Forest Industries Development Corporation (KFIDC). Being
unable to run it, which is not surprising, KFIDC handed the resort over to the
Taj Group on lease for an amount of Rs. 1.25 lakh per month. The Taj group
had planned a Rs 40 crore project, with the government providing a 20%
subsidy. The area was initia'lly leased to a sawmill.
35 Nilagiris : Fading Glory