Govt to seek pvt sector help to boost eco-tourism

The state government has decided to enlist private participation in its endeavours to boost eco-tourism here.

Babanrao Pachpute, the state forest minister, said the Maharashtra government would soon launch a project to give a filip to eco-tourism with the active participation of the private sector.

"We have identified eco-tourism as a major revenue generating area for the state and we will concentrate on developing the necessary infrastructure for the same," he said.

The project includes setting up of safari parks, bio-diversity centres and an integrated information network for tourists visiting the state, Pachpute informed. Talking about the role of the private sector in this, Pachpute added that the sector would be involved in various eco-tourist projects on build, operate, transfer (bot) basis.

"I have visited states like Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka to study such projects and Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Mizoram are next on my itinery", the minister said, adding, "It is our government's contention that eco-tourism could be a major revenue generating resource for the state," he added.

As the project involved several departments, a meeting would be convened after the Budget session of the state legislature to discuss the modalities in detail, he added.