A member of the committee constituted by the Government to discuss the issue, Ashisara told Deccan Herald over phone that the status to be accorded by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) will facilitate development of tourism and conservation of the precious wildlife. Besides, they will get recognition at the international level and funds, he said.
Another version
However, Prof B M Kumaraswamy, a member of the Western Ghat Task Force, agrees with the Government’s views on the issue. He told Deccan Herald that the Unesco’s world heritage status would convert the sites into ‘No-Go Area’. The local government will lose control over them.
Besides, all these sites are not just forest areas without people. The world heritage tag might compel tribal people and villagers residing in the areas close to the sites to vacate their dwelling places.
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