Thaindian News

New Delhi, June 2 (IANS) An environment ministry panel Thursday proposed levying of a cess as a percentage of turnover on all privately-run tourist facilities within five km of the boundary of a protected area, including tiger reserves.

The ministry in December last year had formed a seven-member committee to lay down guidelines for regulating forest and wildlife eco-tourism around protected areas. Protected areas are tiger reserves, national parks and bio-reserves.

“The state government should levy a local conservation cess as a percentage of turn-over, on all privately-run tourist facilities within five km of the boundary of a protected area,” said the draft guidelines.

Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said that draft guidelines will be on the ministry website till June 30 and people, stakeholders can give suggestion before final guidelines are issued.

“The rate of cess should be determined by the state government, and the money thus collected should be earmarked to fund protected area management, conservation and local livelihood development, and not go to the state exchequer,” it said.

The guidelines say that each state government should notify the local conservation cess by December 31, 2011.

The panel proposed financial assistance should be provided for communities/individuals who own revenue lands outside protected areas, to convert such lands to forest status.

Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh had expressed concern over dangers posed by mushrooming tourist lodges around tiger reserves, especially the Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand.