Andhra Pradesh: Rs. 5.5 cr worth eco-tourism park at Ananthagiri

VISAKHAPATNAM: The Visakhapatnam division of the forest department and the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC, Simhadri) would jointly set up an eco-tourism complex near Ananthagiri, Alluri Seetharama Raju district.

The complex will be the first-of-its-kind in the region and will provide opportunities to tourists to enjoy the natural beauty of the Eastern Ghats and learn about them. District forest officer Anant Shankar said CSR funds would be utilised for this project. The project has a budget outlay of Rs. 5.50 crore.

NTPC Simhadri would be disbursing Rs. 2.50 crore for the first year. In addition, government funds will also be utilised for the grounding of different works at the proposed centre.

The DFO said the project is proposed under Mission Conserve Eastern Ghats and aimed at tapping the tourism potential of the serene natural landscape of the tribal agency area in Ananthagiri. In addition, it will help generate livelihoods for local tribal communities.

The complex will work on the model of community-based eco-tourism. Local community will be trained to manage the eco-tourism project and they will derive the entire benefits thereof. The local tribal community will be the custodian of the facility.

The revenue generated from the complex will be used for management of the facility and the surplus amount for community development and forest and wildlife conservation works.

The complex will have eco-cottages, an interpretation centre, a non-timber forest produce (NTFP) processing centre, an open butterfly garden, Orchidarium, medicinal plants garden and a watch tower.

Efforts will be made to document the traditional knowledge and culture of the region’s tribals and showcase these to the public. The AP forest department will provide skill development training to the tribals and facilitate them for management of the complex.