Industry & Economy
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Tourism
Ministry working on eco-tourism proposal
Mamuni Das
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To cater to various stakeholders including local inhabitants
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New Delhi
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Aug. 11
In a move aimed at promoting eco-tourism, the Ministry of Environment and Forests is working on a proposal for allowing multi-stakeholder partnership in forest areas. The move would facilitate private investments in eco-tourism.
The proposal would help in habitat restoration and provide the developer the right to regulate entry for a certain period, the Ministry of Environment and Forests Secretary, Dr Prodipto Ghosh, told Business Line.
Proposal contents
It includes provision of benefits such as jobs to the local inhabitants in the area. The interested organisations, be it private firms or non-Government organisations, would have to bid for developing certain areas that have potential for eco-tourism, on a benefit-sharing basis with other stakeholders like the Forest Department and local community, he said.
"The proposal is in early stages at present and is yet to be firmed up," he added.
For example, suppose there exist patches of green cover areas which are separated by non green-inaccessible patch of land. Then an interested party can develop the non-green patch and can invest in infrastructure that would provide access to the green covers, he explained.
Eco-tourism destination
In order to get returns on his investment, the firm can promote the area as an eco-tourism destination and collect access charges for a certain period of time. However, it would have to engage the local community by providing them habitation, jobs as guides, workers in the area. Moreover, the locals would have free access in the area.
The proposal, after finalisation by the Ministry, would need a Cabinet approval, said Dr Ghosh adding that the Ministry is in talks with various State Governments and other Ministries on the issue.
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