Pvt players to soon develop eco-tourism

15 projects to kick off in state

The first private sector participation in the development of eco-tourism in reserve forests and protected areas in the country is going to kick off in Andhra Pradesh in the next couple of months.

The eco-tourism projects of Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad; Mrugavani National Park, Chilkur near Hyderabad; and Mahavir Nischal Van Project, Hyderabad, are likely to be completed by October this year.

The Andhra Pradesh Forest Development Corporation (APFDC) had been entrusted with the task of involving the private sector in 15 eco-tourism projects in the reserve forest and protected areas in the state in 2001.

The projects entrusted to APFDC are Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad; Indira Gandhi Zoo Park, Visakhapatnam; Sri Venkateshwara Zoo Park, Tirupati; SKBVR Botanical Gardens, Hyderabad; Night Safari Park, Madhapur near Hyderabad; Bird Park Project, Madhapur near Hyderabad; Mrugavani National Park, Chilkur near Hyderabad; Mahavir Nischal Van Project, Hyderabad; Keesaragutta-Ghatkesari Project, Hyderabad; Pulicat Bird Sanctuary in Nellore district; Shamirpet Deer Park, Hyderabad; Sri Venkateshwara National Park, Tirupati; Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary, Rollapadu in Kurnool district; Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve and Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary in Warangal district.

The total outlay for these 15 projects is Rs 99.4 crore. The corporation signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with private developers for 10 projects totalling Rs 79.4 crore till January 2004.

The projects are at various stages of processing and awaiting clearances from the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Central Zoo Authority etc, said S Bala Krishna, director (eco-tourism) of APFDC.

The corporation is at present in the processing of identifying developers for the remaining five projects. The five projects, seeking developers, are Sri Venkateshwara Zoo Park, Tirupati, Sri Venkateshwara National Park, Tirupati, Rollapadu sanctuary, Srisailam Tiger Reserve and Eturnagaram sanctuary.

The eco-tourism projects are being offered to the private sector on the basis of 'design, build, finance and operate' (DBFO) model. They have not only to design the projects but also create thematic facilities, basic amenities, base camps etc.

The private developers are given a specific concession period of 33 years to operate in these reserve forest areas without any rights of ownership on the land or other assets created. They are allowed to recoup expenditure before the end of the concession period, after a revenue-sharing agreement with the APFDC.

In February 2004, the National Wild Life Board rejected the proposal of APFDC to build tourist amenities in seven projects under its jurisdiction.

The projects are Sri Venkateshwara National Park, Tirupati, Rollapadu sanctuary, Srisailam Tiger Reserve and Eturnagaram sanctuary, Pulicat Bird Sanctuary, Mahavir Nischal Van Project and Mrugavani National Park.

Now, the corporation hit upon the idea of developing tourist facilities outside these parks in close proximity. At present, it is in the process of acquiring land and once that is ready the already selected developers or the new developers can start the works, without having to seek any central agency approval, Bala Krishna said.

"The main activities proposed in under the eco-tourism programme are bird watching, trekking, nature trails, river rafting amidst the scenic beauty of the hills, valleys, meadows, water bodies etc. Night safari park and bird park will enable the tourists to watch animals and birds of various zoo-geographical regions of the world in simulated conditions," the APFDC director said.

Eco-tourism also affords better understanding of various cultures and customs of people living in the area and provides livelihood to them, he added.