Sankar Radhakrishnan

Thiruvananthapuram , June 22

IN the next few weeks, the State tourism department will begin work on a new eco-tourism project at Konni in Pathanamthitta district.

Inspired by Konni's association with elephants and elephant-related folklore, the project will focus on elephants, said an official associated with the project. Activities such as elephant rides, visits to the elephant camp and proposed elephant museum will all be part of the Konni eco-tourism project.

As part of the department's strategy of creating eco-tourism sites that appeal to a large number of tourists, the Konni project will have zones and activities for both the casual visitor and the hardcore eco-tourist.

While activities for the casual visitor will be developed around the elephant camp in Konni, eco-tourism products such as two-day and three-day treks for the serious eco-tourist will be developed in the forests surrounding Konni.

According to officials associated with the initiative, the Konni eco-tourism project will be developed in four phases. During the first phase, which is expected to involve an investment of Rs 68 lakh, the existing elephant camp in Konni will be developed as the project's hub.

The elephant museum, exhibition spaces, stalls for the elephants at the camp and rest areas for the mahouts will be set up during this stage of the project. Other facilities such as administrative offices, visitor amenities such as toilets and snack counters will also be built during the first phase of the project, which is likely to be completed in six months.

In the second phase of the project, the eco-tourism department proposes to develop areas adjoining Konni, improve water supply to the project area and so on.

Trekking, which is to be an important aspect of the Konni eco-tourism project, will be started during the third phase.

Development of trekking paths and campsites for trekkers with be carried out during this stage. Treks of varying levels of difficulty will also be developed to suit the requirements of different groups of tourists.

During the fourth and final phase of the project, various accommodation options will be created for tourists visiting the Konni eco-tourism project.

As much of the land to be included in the project is controlled by the Kerala Forest Department, this department is expected to manage the Konni eco-tourism project, while the tourism department will be responsible for marketing the initiative.

To ensure that the Konni eco-tourism project benefits the local community, the tourism department proposes to entrust the local vana samrakshana samiti - a committee of local people - with the responsibility of managing some aspects of the project.

Similarly, the department will also organise training programmes for local people in various areas so as to enable them to work as tourist guides, sell souvenirs and so on.

Another proposal being considered is to promote local agricultural produce and to manufacture paper from elephant dung.

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