Jharkhand High Court
Babloo Kumar vs Vrs on 6 February, 2018
Author: Aparesh Kumar Singh
Bench: Aparesh Kumar Singh, Ratnaker Bhengra
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI
W.P.(PIL) No. 5083 of 2011
Babloo Kumar ............Petitioner
Vrs.
The Union of India & others ............. Respondents
.......
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE APARESH KUMAR SINGH HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RATNAKER BHENGRA For the Petitioner : Mr. Rajeev Kumar For the Respondents : Mr. Vikash Kumar, J.C to A.G. 41/06.02.2018 A supplementary counter affidavit has been filed on 09.01.2018 giving the breakup of inflow of tourists, both domestic and international in the year 2011, 2012 till 2016. The figure provided in the chart show that the flow of tourists from the year 2011, when it was 2,64,37,295, has increased to 3,35,58,728 in the year 2016, which includes substantial number of pilgrim tourists visiting the town of Deoghar. The State of Jharkhand has framed the Tourism Policy in the year 2015 which provided for growth of tourism in the State by promoting eco-tourism, religious tourism, mining tourism etc. This is a comprehensive document. In furtherance of the Tourism Policy much more initiative appears to be necessary for promoting eco-tourism, specially in places like Netarhat, Mc Cluskieganj, Parasnath Hills etc.
2. The Tourism Department is required to come forward with comprehensive plan in that regard. Mere creation of infrastructure by the Tourism Department or its Directorate may not be enough to harness the maximum potential of these beautiful places of the State. Various related aspects of the matter which include provisions for conveyance, safety concern etc. have also been deliberated today. The Department should think over the matter and come out with their comprehensive plan which also incorporates sustainable means of livelihood for the local people through eco-tourism and strict regulatory mechanism to ensure that development of these tourist places do not destroy the ecology and bio-diversity of the places. Various model existing in other State can also be examined by the Department in this regard.
3. Learned counsel for the Respondent State prays for two weeks time to seeks instructions and come out with concrete plan in this regard. We post the matter accordingly for 27.02.2018 as unfixed case. The Secretary, Tourism Department, Government of Jharkhand and the Director, Tourism, Government of Jharkhand may also be present on the next date to assist the Court.
(Aparesh Kumar Singh, J.) ( Ratnaker Bhengra, J.) A.Mohanty