Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Nov 26, 2007
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Online edition of India's National Newspaper Monday, Nov 26, 2007 ePaper |
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Tamil Nadu
Serene: A view of the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park in Pollachi. – TIRUPUR: In an effort aimed at promoting eco-tourism in the Western Ghats, the Union Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned Rs. 4.39 crore for the development of Udhagamandalam-Mudumalai-Anamalai circuit. “We are expecting the funds at any time. All the preparatory works have started. Wildlife and nature interpretation centres with audio, video gadgets will come up at Udhagamandalam, Top Slip and Mudumalai, besides improving existing accommodations,” says R. Kannan, Conservator of Forests, Coimbatore Circle. Union Ministry of Tourism will release 80 per cent of the grant (Rs. 3.51 crore) in the first phase and the remaining based on the progress of work. “In Mudumalai and Top Slip we are facing shortage of accommodation. Improvement of all forest rest houses and trek sheds will ease out the pressure. Besides promoting tourism, the interpretation centres will enlighten the visitors about wildlife, conservation of forest etc.,” he told The Hindu on Friday. Of the Rs. 4.39 crore, Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park, Pollachi, will get a major share of Rs. 1.97 crore while Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary Rs. 82.25 lakh and the Nilgiris South Division will get Rs. 81.20 lakh. Coimbatore Forest Division will get an assistance of Rs. 79.35 lakh. One of the long-pending demands for providing water facility at Topslip, near Pollachi, has been met with. K.R. Varadharajan, wildlife warden of Indira Gandhi park says the shortage of water at Topslip during summer will be over forever. Water will be brought from the entry point of tunnel, near Thunakkadavu, and will be supplied to Kozhikamuthi, Varagaliyar elephant camps and Topslip. According to Mr. Varadharajan, all the existing rest houses at Sethumadai, Topslip, Amaravathy dam, Valparai, Manombolli, Upper Aliyar and Akkamalai Gate will be improved. “There has been a 10 per cent annual increase of tourists visiting Topslip for the last three years. The facilities will largely help us bring down the pressure,” he adds. In Topslip, all the existing accommodations, including Tree Top guest houses, will be upgraded. Rs. 35.5 lakh will be spent for constructing wildlife view towers and rest sheds in the sanctuary. Mr. Varadharajan says they have identified 29 trek routes in all the six ranges with a distance of 6 km to 12 km, besides two vehicle routes in each range. They will be open for nature lovers once the infrastructure is put in place, hopefully by April. Eco-tourism societies will be formed at all the ranges with range officers as its member-secretaries having NGOs and tribal people as its members. These societies will operate short distance trips for tourism by vehicle. Tribals will get employment as they can play the role of guides.
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