The increasing popularity of Gavi as an off-beat tourist destination has come into serious conflict with the requirements of conservation in Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR)Gavi is Thekkady is its purest form. It has forests, hills, waterfalls and lakes, most of which are largely unexplored. Sensing an opportunity, Kerala Forest Development Corporation (KFDC) had begun an innovative eco-tourism programme at Gavi a few years ago. The gamble paid off. The destination was such a big that KFDC was able to offset the losses made by its cardamom plantations in the area. It was thus able to pay the salaries of its Sri Lankan Tamil workers on time. There was a time, not long ago, when these poor refugees had to go without pay for six to eight months.But KFDC's and tourism's gain was conservation's loss. Gavi is a tourist paradise which after PTR was extended to 925 sq.km from 777 sq.km om September 4, 2008 is bordered on all sides by the core area of PTR.Even after PTR was declared as 'critical core area' by National Tiger Conservation Authority, at least 10 jeeps carrying tourist travel every day from Kumily to Gavi through PTR. In addition, an equal number of diesel autorickshaws, with their earsplitting noise, flit to and fro through the reserve. Last month a leopard was killed in PTR. The post-morten report said it was hit by a vehicle.Now, KSRTC too has jumped into the tourism bandwagon. On October 15, it started a Pathanamthitta-Gavi-Kumily service that passes through the inviolate area of PTR, the only mass transport through the area. "We want to promote this service in a big way", said Pathanamthitta District Transport Officer G.Anil Kumar. Here is his sales pitch. "This is the only bus service that runs through 88km of dense tropical forest. Sit back and enjoy the sight of some of the rarest species of flora and fauna. Moreover, the route passes through the stunningly beautiful catchment areas of Sabarigiti Hydel Project".KSRTC, too has not intimated the Forest Department. This bus enters and re-enters the PTR stretch at a time barred for vehicles, between 6.pm and 8 am.All of a sudden, synergy is at work. KFDC is planning to use the KSRTC service to bring tourists from Kumily to Gayi. "In a jeep, a tourist has to pay rs.1200 for a trip to Gavi and back. But if he/she uses this bus, the cost comes down to less than Rs.80", reasons R.Radhakrishnan, the officer in charge of KFDC's Gavi tourism.According the Forest officials, a project can be classified eco-tourism only of it satisfies certain conditions. One, it should be run by the locals. (the Gavi project is run by KFDC). Two, the income should be ploughed back into the eco-development committees. (KFDC keeps most of the Gavi returns and shares just a small percentage with the locals). Three, there should be zero investment in infrastructure and hardware. (KFDC has a resort name Green Mansions and has employed jeeps for jungle safaris).
The New Indian Express, 4th November 2008
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