Report by Assam on mitigation measures being undertaken to offset the adverse impact of tourism activities on the environment, 29/09/2023
Submission of compliance report by Assam in National Green Tribunal order dated March 9, 2022 in the matter of a news item published in the Hindu dated February 27, 2022 titled “Tourism has brought economic prosperity to the Himalayan region, but the environmental cost has been catastrophic”.
The report contained mitigation measures being undertaken in Kaziranga National Park to offset the adverse impact of tourism activities on the environment. The report also mentioned an action taken report supported by an action plan to deal with the issue of ecological degradation due to tourism pertaining to Manas Tiger Reserve. Tourism in Manas National Park is permitted only as per the provision of the Tiger Conservation Plan approved by the National Tiger Conservation Authority. Only few routes are made available for tourist movement which constitute only 20 per cent of the total core area of the Park so it is having only a remotest chance of creating any catastrophic environmental cost due to tourism.
Overall a sustainable Tourism is only allowed inside Manas National Park without any scope of ecological degradation and time to time to monitoring is done from the park authority on this sector and maximum effort is ensured to manage the proper habitat for the wildlife as per Tiger Conservation Plan so guided by the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
Various steps have been taken to spread awareness to maintain cleanliness in tourist spots across the urban local bodies (ULB) of Assam. World Tourism Day has been celebrated on ULBs on September 27 every year where various cleanliness activities are being undertaken. However, most of the tourist spots fall within either forest area or in some restricted area. The concerned departments look after management of such tourist spots.
Furthermore, important tourist spots in Assam - Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary does not fall under urban area and hence Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban has no role to play in these important tourist spots of Assam.
Note: The report of September 29, 2023 was uploaded to the NGT site April 2, 2024