Andhra Pradesh - Nalgonda   

Kolleru lake to be developed into eco-tourism spot: Minister

Staff Reporter

High-level team to visit Kolleru soon: Geeta Reddy

NEW FACILITY: Tourism Minister Geeta Reddy and Home Minister Jana Reddy at the inauguration of the APTDC's restaurant at Suryapet in Nalgonda district on Sunday. -PHOTO: NAGARA GOPAL

NALGONDA: The Tourism Department is determined to develop the Kolleru lake as a lovely eco-tourism spot, according to J.Geeta Reddy, Tourism Minister.

Addressing the gathering after inaugurating `Haritha', a restaurant constructed by the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation on the side of the National Highway no.9, near Suryapet town on Sunday night, she said a high-level team led by her would visit Kolleru soon to study the possibility of developing it as an eco-tourism centre.

The Minister maintained that the Government had given "rural focus" to tourism and taken up a good number of projects in each and every district. "Before the pro-poor Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy Government came to power, the emphasis was on cities and five star hotels but now we are giving special emphasis for rural tourism to create employment opportunity for the locals as well as to generate revenue," she said.

Of the 150 Buddhist locations in the State, 44 major sites were getting a facelift to attract tourists, she announced. "We have taken up the task of developing infrastructure at the 44 Buddhist sites," she said declaring that the prestigious "Bouddha Vanam" project taken up at a cost of Rs.30 crores in a 20-acre stretch at Nagarjunasagar would be completed by the end of the year.

The Rs.2.5-crore rural tourism project at Bhoodan Pochampally would be inaugurated by the Union Minister Ambika Soni this month.

Dr. Geeta Reddy positively reacted to focus on Urlugonda and Pillalamarri in the district. Home Minister K.Jana Reddy also said that the Bouddha Vanam project would be the centre of attraction in the State. The MD, APTDC, Raymond Peter and the Joint Collector B.Sridhar and the Suryapet MLA V.Venkaiah were also present.

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Kolleru lake to be developed into eco-tourism spot: Minister

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