Eco-tourism to get big boost in Himachal Pradesh

Shimla, Nov 8 : With a view to give boost to eco-tourism in Himachal Pradesh, the Forest Department has formulated a comprehensive plan under which 10 proposals have been approved.

Out of the 10 sites approved for eco-tourism, some have become operational while work on the rest is still under progress.

Expression of interest has also been invited in respect of 23 forest rest houses.

The Forest Department will carry out sites or temporary accommodation for 30 to 40 people at these places. Swiss cottages or tents will also be put up for the purpose.

Nature trails or walks and other activities such as trekking, mountain biking, rock climbing, nature awareness, including local flora and fauna and planting of trees, will be carried out by the department.

Sewerage and garbage disposal mechanisms will be developed and an appropriate signage for nature awareness and maintenance of natural resources put up in these places.

Besides eco-tourism, wildlife, natural environment would be developed in the suburbs of the rest houses for the tourists.

Local communities and school children will be associated in nature awareness and plantation programmes in and around these sites.

Effective fire protection and forest protection measures will be adopted as a safeguard as well as for demonstrative effect.

A sum of Rs 60 lakh had been allotted for the development of five eco-circuits -- Dalhousie circuit in Chamba district; Triund Circuit in Kangra district; Chopal circuit in Shimla district; Dhauladhar Wildlife Sanctuary in Bir-Rajgundha circuit and Kais Wildlife Sanctuary in Nagar-Footasurlake circuit of Kullu district -- last year.

In addition, funds have been allotted for completion of Diana Park trekking hut and Prashar Lake Forest Rest House in Mandi and for repair of Forest Rest House at Bassi in Bilaspur.

Funds have also been allotted for Dharamshala (Triund) Circuit, Bir-Rajgundha Circuit (Dhauladhar Wildlife Sanctuary), Tundah-Banni Circuit, Hadsar-Kugti Circuit, Chopal Circuit, Rohru Circuit, Garkhal-Subathu Circuit, Kilba Forest Rest House and Purbani-Kanda Circuit in Kinnaur district.

A website -- www.himachalecotourism.nic.in -- on eco-tourism has been created to facilitate the tourists. On-going and newly completed sites have been provided linkage for booking facilities.

Periodic updating of the same will be an ongoing process.

Himachal Pradesh is one of the top five tourist destinations in the country. As per estimates, roughly around 90 lakh tourists visit the state every year and enjoy its natural beauty. Much of the tourism-related activities are concentrated in four major hill stations of Shimla, Manali, Dharamshala and Dalhousie. The bulk of the tourists do not get an opportunity to visit the countryside and dense forest areas, which are indeed a nature paradise.

The Forest Department had formulated an eco-tourism policy in 2001 when the BJP Government was in power. The policy aims to bring the wilderness and solitude of Himachal Pradesh closer to the tourists visiting the state and at the same time attempts to put in place adequate safeguards and systems leading to the preservation of these resources.

The policy also envisages involving local communities with a view to help improve their prosperity through increased livelihood opportunities. The main objective was to decongest the overflowing city tourist destinations and bring the tourists closer to nature and ensure adequate economic returns to the state and livelihood opportunities to the local communities.

The activities of the Eco-tourism Societies (ECOSOCs) are concentrated on strengthening and further development of already existing eco-tourism sites presently being managed by local ECOSOCs under various divisions.

Local ECOSOCs are already in place in Shimla, Rohru, Chopal, Kullu, Shimla and Chamba forest divisions. New societies have also been created in Parvati, Banjar, Dalhousie, Bilaspur and Kinnaur forest divisions.

Tenting facilities are being provided in Shimla, Kufri, Narkanda, Kullu, GHNP and Dalhousie in and around forest areas.

Adequate care is being taken on disseminating environmental awareness to the visiting tourists in these areas. Development of new sites is a priority and liaison with the state Tourism Department for logistic and publicity support.

An eco-tourism project amounting to Rs 3.68 crore has earlier been approved by the Union Tourism Ministry out of which Rs. 2.94 crore has been released to the state.

Eco-tourism circuits are being created from the above funds in Kullu, Shimla, Kinnaur and Bilaspur districts. Eco-tourism circuits to be created are Kothi, Kasol, Pulga, Shojha, Paneo, Takrasi and Sarahan in Kullu district, Mandi, Larot, Dodra, Kawar, Jakha and Jiskoon in Shimla district, Sholtu, Purbani, Sangla and Shongtong in Kinnaur district, Nainadevi in Bilaspur district.

--UNI

(c) 2009 Published with permission from United News of India.
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