Kerala to include Sabarimala in proposed eco-tourism project
By Jays Jacob | 14 Dec 2002
Kochi:
Kerala Forests Minister K Sudhakaran has said Sabarimala,
the pilgrimage centre, will be included in the proposed
eco-tourism project, linking 12 wildlife sanctuaries and
two national parks in the state.
Sudhakaran says the proposed eco-tourism project, estimated at Rs 80 crore, is aimed at attracting not less than 80 lakh foreign as well as native tourists to the state in the coming years.
He
says pilgrim tourism will be promoted in Sabarimala as
part of the proposed eco-tourism project. The government
will take adequate steps to implement the project and
its detailed project report will be presented at the Global
Investors’ Meet to be held in Kochi in January 2003.
Sudhakaran
says the government is trying its best to sanction more
forestland for providing maximum tourism opportunities
within the limits of the prevailing Forest Conservation
Act and other laws. “The prevailing laws are against
sanctioning more forestland to the Travancore Devaswom
Board at Pampa even if the government is willing to provide
alternative land at Nilackal to the forest department
for afforestation.”
He says the hurdles in sanctioning forestland for the proposed drinking water supply scheme with financial assistance from Hudco for Sabarimala, Nilackal, Attathode and Pampa Valley will be cleared as early as possible.