Jhilmil Jheel to be developed as eco-tourism destination

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 4

The Tourism Department will be developing Jhilmil Jheel, known for its swamp deer population, as a prominent eco-tourism destination of the state.

The tourism authorities have decided to send a proposal to the tune of Rs 1 crore to the state administration for the purpose.

Jhilmil Jheel, which is situated along the Haridwar-Najeebabad national highway, also has tigers, leopards and elephants. Swamp deer finds mention in the list of the endangered species.

Spread across 3,783.50 hectares, Jhilmil Jheel is a conservation reserve and falls in the Haridwar forest division. It is situated on the banks of the Ganga and in 2005, then President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam declared it as a swamp deer conservation reserve. Jaspal Singh, District Tourism Officer, Haridwar, said Jhilmil Jheel had immense tourism potential due to rich biodiversity and could be one of the excellent eco tourism destinations of Uttarakhand.

The proposal sent to the state administration entails developing safari roads, crocodile park, rain and sun shelters and watch towers on the Jhilmil Jheel premises.