GOLITAR AND BARSEY PROJECTS UNDERWAY, ONE MORE PROPOSED AT PANGOLAKHA SANCTUARY
GANGTOK, 04 May: The Forest, Environment and Wildlife Management Department [FE&WMD] has initiated eco-tourism development projects through which the department aims to boost the tourism sector of the state on the one hand and increase the activities and revenue of the Eco-Development Committees [EDCs] on the other.
Following the development of eco-tourism projects in state the Department of Forest has begun a project at Golitar under Fambonglho Wildlife Sanctuary which is funded by North Eastern Council [NEC], Shillong. The total estimated cost of the project is said to be Rs. 3.94 crore and the entire amount is informed to be borne by the NEC as financial assistance but to begin with only Rs. 1.24 crore has been sanctioned. It is informed that after completion of the first phase of the work the second installment is expected to be released by NEC.
Divisional Forest Officer [DFO], Wild Life [East] Ravi Kumar stated that the objective of the project is to create excellent eco-tourism facilities, empowerment of local people by generating awareness and involvement in the day-to-day management of sanctuaries.
The project even aims to promote eco-tourism in the state in an eco-friendly way, create a conservation oriented approach among the user agencies, create baseline data for future management, develop human resource among local people, and to create excellent interpretation facilities and scientific disposal of garbage.
Coming up of such a project will help in the conservation of biodiversity of the sanctuary and empower the local people along with promoting eco-tourism which eventually will help in better management of the sanctuary, added DFO [WL,East].
He went on to add that all the construction work initiated is being executed through Pangthang Eco-Development Committee [EDC] and the works carried out are within the norms of Forest Development Agency [FDA] like regular FDA works.
After completion of the said project all the infrastructure facilities would be managed and maintained by Pangthang EDC which will also develop human resource among the local people, provide employment to the local educated youth and active involvement in the management of the sanctuary, stated DFO [WL, East].
The project will have Nature interpretation center-cum-office at Golitar, eco-huts, forest guards barrack, approach roads, parking yard, footpath, viewing deck, cafeteria, Gazzebo, traditional entry gate, lake and many more, he iterated.
Likewise, he informed that the Wildlife Circle under Forest Department has also proposed another similar eco- tourism project for Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary as well which is also expected to be funded by NEC.
Adding more, the DFO, WL [West] Tshering Pintso informed that a similar kind of project has just kicked off at West District at Hee Patal under Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary with the name ‘Banwas’. The total estimated cost of the project is about Rs. 2.80 crore and the project is also funded by NEC. He stated that the construction of the said project began a few months back and the project will consist of three traditional houses of Bhutia, Lepcha and Nepali, cafeteria, Banwas house and many more.
.."The project even aims to promote eco-tourism in the state in an eco-friendly way,.."?? I fail to see the ECO here? it just seems like a lot of construction activity, as always.
ReplyDelete"The project will have Nature interpretation center-cum-office at Golitar, eco-huts, forest guards barrack, approach roads, parking yard, footpath, viewing deck, cafeteria, Gazzebo, traditional entry gate, lake and many more"- sounds really good and exciting but how are they going to manage all this.....how many trees will be cut down, how many shrubs and grass lands destroyed ???? can he detail out these also. Where is the ecology in this eco toursim project???
ReplyDeleteThe best eco-project is the one which allows the forest to be on its own. Its amazing that our forest officials remain innocent of this simple principle. But, here in Sikkim, we have gone the commercial way. We dry our rivers in the name of development and concretize our forests in the name of ecology.
ReplyDeleteI fuly agree with JD. Some change in mind set is urgently called for least our prestine ecosystems are lost in this mad rush of so called development.
DeleteIt is good to have nature interpretation centres and relevant facilities before the visitors embark on the trail.Each of these Sanctuaries has its own specialities whether birds, trees or rhododendrons. It is good to have free-lance guides among the EDCs well conversant on the subjects with daily rates fixed for. For bird-watchers the early morning ( 4 am- 9 am) is the best time and NP and Sanctuaries entry -time rules should be adjusted /modified accordingly. Identifying trees and shrubs within the Park is equally important and ofcourse garbage disposal. The recent news of school children collecting huge garbage from Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary does not speak good and good to know why EDC is not looking into the matter with seriousness. It is good to support EDCs but with full accountability . And trails- do please avoid the slippery cemented paths and if need be with hand-rails on the left.Good Luck.
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