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Sabarimala to be included on eco-tourism map: Minister

By Our Staff Reporter

PATHANAMTHITTA Dec. 10. The Minister for Forests, K. Sudhakaran, has said that Sabarimala will be included in the proposed eco-tourism project linking 12 wildlife sanctuaries and two national parks in the State.

Talking to presspersons at Pampa today, the Minister said that the proposed eco-tourism project estimated at Rs. 80 crores was aimed at attracting not less than 80 lakh foreign as well as native tourists to the State in the coming years.

He said pilgrim tourism would be promoted at Sabarimala as part of the proposed eco-tourism project. The Government would take adequate steps to implement the project and its detailed project report would be presented at the Global Investors' meet to be held in Kochi in January.

Mr. Sudhakaran said the Government was trying its best to sanction more forest land for providing maximum possible within the limits of the prevailing Forest Conservation Act and laws. He said that the prevailing laws were against sanctioning more forest land to the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) at Pampa even if the Government was willing to provide alternative land at Nilackal to the Forest Department for afforestation.

He said the hurdles in sanctioning forest land for the proposed drinking water supply scheme with financial assistance from the Hudco for Sabarimala, Nilackal, Attathode and Pampa Valley would be cleared as early as possible. The Minister inaugurated the eateries and other shops launched by the Eco Development Societies sponsored by the Forest Department at Cheriyanavattom near Pampa, later.

Mr. Raju Abraham, MLA, presided the function. The Chief Conservator of Forests, Rajaraja Varma, the Divisional Forest Officers, Muhamed Hameed and Joseph, and the Assistant Field Director of the Periyar Tiger Reserve, S. Sivadas, also spoke.

Poonkavana Vandanam

The Minister also inaugurated Poonkavana Vandanam, an aforestation project, launched by the Haritha Sena of the Mata Amrithanandamayi Mutt at Sabarimala. The project had been conceived in co-operation with the Forest Department to plant saplings in Sabarimala. The medical centre of the State-run Ayurvedic pharmaceuticals, Oushadhi, was also inaugurated by the Minister on the occasion.

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