56 new eco-tourism sites to be developed

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 2

The Forest Department has identified 56 new eco-tourism sites in the state which will be leased out or run under the PPP mode after their economic viability is assessed by Tourism and Civil Aviation Department to ensure they run as profitable ventures.

With a major shift towards adventure tourism, the Forest Department is keen that more such eco-tourism sites are developed, which, in turn, will help generate the much-needed revenue for the government. At present, there are five eco-tourism sites that have been operating in the state since 2009. The area of the 56 new sites is one hectare each. The sites are concentrated in the districts of Kullu, Chamba, Shimla, Solan and Kinnaur.

As a first step aimed at ensuring sustainable tourism, the Forest Department has, for the first time, decided to get the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) of the five sites which are being run as successful eco-tourism projects done. The pre-bid conference involving the interested parties —Those keen to undertake the EIA, was held here on May 28. The bids will be opened at the next meeting scheduled for June 6.

“We are keen to promote eco-tourism but not at the cost of environment. We have decided to get EIA of the five eco-tourism sites running in the state since 2009 done,” said Dr GR Sahibi, Chief Conservator, Eco-Tourism. He said EIA of these five sites will be undertaken to assess as to what has been its impact on the environment.

Sahibi said another decision taken by eco-tourism wing of Forest Department was to get economic viability study of the proposed 56 sites done. This will ensure sites being given out on rent or on PPP mode are profitable ventures with enough tourism potential and at the same time will project employment generation opportunity, he added.

Forest Department has this time decided to get economic viability study of the proposed sites done so that entrepreneurs to whom they are allotted do not back out at a later stage. In fact, in 2009 too, 10 sites were allotted but only five became operational as the remaining were surrendered at a later stage.

What is eco-tourism

Eco-tourism is a form of tourism involving visiting fragile, pristine, and relatively undisturbed natural areas, intended as a low-impact and often small-scale alternative to standard commercial (mass) tourism