The Supreme Court today gave the green signal for resumption of tourism activities, modifying its July 24 order by which it had earlier halted all tourism related activities in Tiger reserve areas.

While lifting its interim ban on tourism activities in the core tiger reserve areas, a bench of justices A K Patnaik and Swatanter Kumar the apex court made it clear that it has not held the guidelines either constitutionally valid or unconstitutional.

Writing the order, Justice Patnaik said the tourism activities in the Tiger reserve areas henceforth would be strictly in accordance with the notification on tiger conservation, issued by the National Tiger Conservation Authority on October 15.

The court also directed the respective state governments to prepare the Tiger conservation plan within six months from today and submit the same to the tiger conservation authority.

The bench said any party aggrieved by the notification will have the liberty to challenge the same before the appropriate authority.

The bench's direction came after Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Indira Jaising informed the court that the notification was formally issued on October 15 for 41 tiger reserves across the country.

The court on October 9 had allowed the Centre to notify within a week its fresh guidelines on tiger conservation.