Ethnic cottages,
restaurants, souvenir shops, boating and safaris among activities proposed.
Hyderabad: The state
government has given a call to develop two new eco-tourism sites in Telangana
State’s most picturesque spots.
The Telangana State Forest
Development Corporation is set to develop the projects on a public-private
partnership mode, creating hundreds of new jobs and generating lakhs of rupees
in income.
Ethnic cottages,
restaurants, souvenir shops, boating and safaris are among the things proposed
in the scenic backwaters of Vizag Colony in Nalgonda and at Chintaguda in
Mancherial, near the lush Kawal Tiger Reserve.
The department generates
approximately `20 crore annually from existing projects in and around
Hyderabad. These include the Botanical Garden and Pala Pitta Cycling Park in
Kothaguda, Mrugavani National Park in Chilkur, Mahavir Harina Vanasthali Park
in Vanasthalipuram and Jawahar Lake Tourism Complex in Shamirpet.
The two new sites are likely
to generate an additional `30 lakh for the state initially and it might go up
over the years.
Assistant director,
eco-tourism, at TSFDC, M. Madhavi, said: “Tenders will be floated after surveys
are completed by the state at both sites. We hope to start work in another four
months, depending on the response to tenders.”
The Nalgonda site is located
amid lush and serene green fields, long stretches of jungle areas and blue
green waters of the Nagarjunasagar reservoir.
“There are several important
places near and around the proposed base camp, which will be easily accessible
from the site,” Ms Madhavi said.
Set near the Amrabad Tiger
Reserve, tourist points will include boating in the Nagarjunasagar backwaters,
visits to the historical Gajubedam caves; Devarakonda fort; Harihara Mallanna
temple; and to Puttamgandi lift irrigation project, the biggest in Asia.
Tourists are expected from
both TS and Andhra Pradesh to this place 133 km from Hyderabad.
At Chintaguda in Mancherial
district, 10 independent cottages, tented accommodation and two common
dormitories will come up. A children’s play area, a restaurant and a landscaped
garden are also planned.
Other attractions near the
area include the Shivaram crocodile sanctuary, Gundala waterfalls, Laxmi Devi
temple, deer-breeding centre, Godavari river, Mallyal watch tower and solar
pump areas.
“It will serve as a centre
which combines aesthetic, educational and recreation values at one site,” Ms
Madhavi said.
“It also provides a holiday
space for urban visitors within serene natural surroundings.”
While the site at
Mancherial, about 280 km from Hyderabad, is likely to draw 10,000 visitors
every year, the one at Nalgonda is set to hit 20,000, being about 100 km closer
to the city.
Both projects are set to
create 200 direct jobs for residents in the capacity of drivers, watchmen,
house-keeping staff and guides.
Additional indirect job
opportunities will be created through setting up of local tours; sale of
vegetables and fish to restaurants and through sale of local craft at souvenir
shops, Ms Madhavi said.
She further said that TSFDC
wants to manage visits to the sites in a circuitous way. It plans to provide
transport and logistics support to the winning bidder, with the support of
residents and the local administration. “Two circuits are proposed with one-day
and two-day tours for tourists visiting these places,” Ms Madhavi said.
“There is also a proposal
for a facility that will cater to the needs of a large group of tourists from
IT and corporate sectors for official meetings, get-togethers and for
small-size parties in the calmness of nature at the secluded site. We have
entered into the field of development of eco-tourism with investment from
private entrepreneurs for developing infrastructure and tourist amenities. The
corporation is also making its own investments in some of the new projects to
provide pollution-free entertainment and environment to the public and also to
create public awareness for protection of environment.”
She added: “All animate and
inanimate objects on earth are inter-related. Each time a species becomes
extinct, man moves closer to his own destruction. TSFDC has taken this small
initiative to inculcate the importance of conservation of flora and fauna by
making people spend time amid nature and away from the chaos of city life.”
Defining eco-tourism, she
said: “It is a responsible travel to natural areas, where environment is
conserved and helps improve welfare of residents.”
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