The Hindu Business Line : Kambalakonda: An experiment in eco-tourism

VISITORS ENJOYING a boat ride in the natural reservoir at Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary in Visakhapatnam. The sanctuary offers several facilities to boost tourism. - K.R. Deepak

Visakhapatnam , Sept. 27

Kambalakonda, which was once on the outskirts of Visakhapatnam city but now very much a part of it, provides "green lungs", to quote the phrase used by a forest department official, to the city. It is a wildlife sanctuary in the eastern ghats. A small part of it is now converted into a nature park to promote eco-tourism.

Kambalakonda was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 2002 to protect the flora and fauna in the region, as the ever-expanding city was threatening to engulf and swallow it. The sanctuary is situated in the eastern ghats, roughly extending to an area of 7,139 hectares and consisting of gentle to steep slopes. It is surrounded by several villages to be brought under Greater Visakha.

RICH FAUNA

The sanctuary harbours a variety of fauna including panthers, barking deer, mouse deer, pangolin, spotted deer, porcupine, giant squirrels, hyenas and different types of owls. It has a reservoir with a capacity to impound 2 lakh gallons to provide water to the animals.

"Declaring Kambalakonda a wildlife sanctuary in 2002 adversely affected the livelihood of some of the local communities, and then we conceived of the Kambalakonda Community-based Eco-tourism Project to involve the villagers in the conservation effort," said Mr. P.V Padmanabham, the conservator of forests.

The villagers of Sambhuvanipalem formed an eco-development committee (EDC) in 2004 and "since then they have been involved in planning, implementation and maintenance of the park." The source of income for park is collection of entry fees at the gate, parking fees, fees for boating, and tent accommodation besides revenue from the cafeteria.

From November 2004 to July this year, nearly Rs 15 lakh was generated and the balance currently available in the joint account of the EDC members is Rs. 2.4 lakh.

Mr Padmanabham said that half of the net income was being used for community development and the remaining half for project development. At present, he said, the facilities were limited. "There are three tents, a cafeteria, and a watchtower. There are trekking trails and there are boating facilities. In future, we want to introduce angling in the reservoir and some adventure sports. Some corporates are also coming forward to create facilities, but we will do it in a phased manner, without affecting the habitat and ambience," he said.

Development of theme parks and construction of a ropeway were also under consideration, he added.

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