Punjab Government, under the Swadesh Darshan scheme, has submitted an eco-tourism project proposing eco-development in different wetlands and protected areas to the Centre. Various eco-development activities have been proposed in this project which include development of nature trails, strengthening and development of infrastructure for the purpose of tourism development, said the state Tourism Minister Sohan Singh Thandal, adding that total project cost is approximately `14 crore.
Informing about the activities of the State Government for promotion of eco-tourism, Thandal said that the SAD-BJP regime has formulated and notified the Punjab Eco-Tourism Policy 2009. He said that there are two types of eco-tourism projects in Punjab. “One that are directly implemented by the government, and others that are being run by private enterprises,” he said.
Thandal said that the state government received six proposals for eco-tourism in Punjab, out of which three proposals — including Metro Eco-Green Resort Private limited at Pallanpur village, SAS Nagar, Mohali, Kang’s Nirvana Resorts and Spa, Kang Farms, Mahilpur-Una Road, Jaijon Doaba, Hoshiarpur district, and Punjab and Eco-Tourism Project at Siswan, Mohali (to be implemented by GMADA) — have been approved.
The Government has taken up the eco-tourism project in Keshopur Community Reserve, Gurdaspur. The reserve has been notified by the Union Government under the Wildlife (Preservation) Act, he said.
“Major portion of the Community Reserve is wetland in which migratory birds flock every year. last year, the bird count was about 25,000 and the number is increasing every year due to the development works being taken by the department. Total area of the wetland is 852 acres,” he added.