Visakhapatnam :
The Kambalakonda eco-tourism park is all set for a facelift and will soon sport dedicated conservation and visitor zones thanks to World Bank funding.
If the plans of the forest department are anything to go by, the Rs 8.45 crore World Bank funding given to the Kambalakonda forest reserve for Cyclone Hudhud relief will be used to create dedicated conservation and visitor zones as well as restoration work.
For the conservation zone, the forest department plans to spend Rs 2.95 crore in setting up a butterfly park, lay a self-guided nature trek path and create an arboretum for display of medicinal plants and biodiversity of the Eastern Ghats, said forest department officials.
“The department will also spend around Rs 1 crore for creation of 10-metre wide view-cum-fire lines, construction of trenches and check dams to harvest rain water,” chief conservator of forests Ampili Bharat Kumar told TOI.
As part of the visitor zone, the authorities plan to invest Rs 5.5 crore in creating facilities like eco-friendly cottages (20), multi-cuisine food court and amphitheatre for interactive animal shows. Plans are also afoot to set up a Bio-Park with evolution as its theme at a cost of Rs 1 crore. For the convenience of visitors, wash rooms, rest shelters and benches, drinking water facilities among other things will also be set up, sources said.
The eco-tourism park, spread over around 40 hectares, is part of the 7139-hectare Kambalakonda reserve forest area and wildlife sanctuary that was devastated by the cyclone that hit the Port City in October last year.
The cyclone caused damages of nearly Rs 15 crore to the Kambalakonda eco-tourism park, wrecking many boats, cottages, observation towers and uprooting thousands of trees. The wildlife sanctuary houses many animals such as leopard, spotted deer, jackals, sambars, among others
Kambalakonda, which was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 2002 to protect the flora and fauna of the region, is part of the Eastern Ghats. Surrounded by many villages, Kambalakonda sanctuary falls under the Greater Visakha area but is under the control of the forest department.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Visakhapatnam / by Siva G, TNN / March 18th, 2015