Centre gives Rs 2.95 cr for eco-tourism in 4 HP districts

The Centre has provided Rs 2.95 crore for developing eco-tourism circuits in four districts of Himachal Pradesh, state Forest Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda has said.     

The HP government is boosting eco-tourism in Kullu, Kinnaur, Shimla and Bilaspur districts of the state in order to attract more visitors, he said.     

The already existing eco-tourism sites/circuits in the Great Himalayan National Park, Kullu, Chamba and Shimla Wild Life/Forest divisions would be strengthened by developing additional infrastructure, he said addressing a high-level meeting of the Forest department held here last evening to review the progress of eco-tourism activities in the state.     

Nadda said that the forest department would support the tourism department for promoting eco-tourism activities and added that capacity building was essential to further strengthen eco-tourism in the state, according to an official release.     

He said that Himachal Pradesh State Forest Corporation would manage seven eco-tourism sites/circuits and added that the Corporation was already developing an eco-tourism site at Narkanda, which would be operational by first half of September 2008.     

The remaining new sites would be operational before the next tourist season during summer of 2009, he added.