SC shields Jarawas from prying tourists

SC shields Jarawas from prying tourists
Tuesday, 03 July 2012 00:09

In a bid to further insulate the Jarawa tribes, the Supreme Court on Monday imposed a ban on all commercial activities by private entities in the buffer zone comprising their habitat. The decision came in the wake of reports about Jarawas being exploited by tourists visiting the Andaman Islands.

After a private resort owner, who was denied permission to operate from the buffer zone chose to pursue litigation, the apex court decided to examine the relevant rules set out to establish shops, resorts and other commercial activities in the island, 80 per cent of which is declared forest land.

A bench of Justices GS Singhvi and SJ Mukhopadhaya held that no commercial venture would be permitted in the demarcated buffer zone as notified by the Centre. However, the convoy vehicles which ferry tourists from the north to the south side of the island through the buffer zone would continue to operate, the bench clarified.

In a set of proposed guidelines submitted earlier to the Court, the Centre had stated: “No tourist establishments such as resorts, restaurants, bars and paying guest accommodations except the government-run guest houses will be permitted within the buffer zone.”

As an added restriction, the Centre proposed to limit commercial activity within the buffer zone to persons or groups employing not more than 20 persons or who have an annual turnover of `1 crore.

Going a step further, the Court held that no commercial activity by private persons would be allowed inside the buffer area. In the event of any violation of its order, contempt of court action would be proceeded against the said individual, the judgement said.

As a long-term measure, the Centre had informed the Court of its intention to open a sea route extending from the north to the south if the island. Pending that, the Centre had proposed to allow tourist activity only to limestone caves and mud volcanoes existing on Baratang Island situated in the buffer zone during the day.