In a few days, the Corbett tiger reserve will be about 50 kilometres less distant from Delhi. The distance between Corbett and the national capital will be shortened with the Union Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Harsh Vardhan along with the Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and State forest and wildlife Minister Harak Singh Rawat slated to inaugurate two new gates of the Corbett tiger reserve at Kotdwar in Pauri district on November 27. Apart from this, to further boost tourism in Corbett and eco-tourism destinations of Uttarakhand, the eco tourism development corporation will be distributing its literature to all foreign embassies in India, said the state forest and wildlife minister Harak Singh Rawat.
Addressing the media here on Tuesday, Rawat said that though two-thirds of Corbett is situated in Pauri district, the necessary focus has not been accorded to this region so far. On November 27, the union minister along with the chief minister will formally inaugurate the Pakhro and Sendhikhal-Ratuadhap gates of Corbett tiger reserve at Kotdwar.
The operation of safari vehicles from Kotdwar and the Kotdwar-eco tourism circuit will also be inaugurated on the occasion. Apart from this, the foundation will also be laid for construction of the laldhang- Chillarkhal road. Rawat said, “Presently the entrance to Corbett in Ramnagar is about 250 kilometres from the national capital. The pressure of tourism activities has been centered on this region so far. With the opening of the gates in Kotdwar, the Corbett tiger reserve will be about 200 kilometres from the national capital and about one and a half hour by road from the Dehradun airport.
This will also enable development of eco and wildlife tourism activities in the Kotdwar region and help even the pressure on Ramnagar. Apart from this, the work on the laldhang-Chillarkhal road is also slated to be inaugurated. At an estimated cost of `9.95 crore, the construction of this road will shorten the distance between Kotdwar and Haridwar by about 40 kilometres which will also enable people to reach from Haridwar to Corbett in about 45 minutes by road. The Uttarakhand Eco Tourism Development Corporation has also drafted a plan for developing five eco-tourism circuits including Dehrdun-Rishikesh, Kotdwar, Ramnagar-Nainital, Yamuna-Tons valley and Nandhaur-Champawat circuits.”
He further informed that a government order has been released for the Uttarakhand Forest Development Corporation to release Rs 10 crore to the Uttarakhand Eco Tourism Development Corporation to enable it to work towards boosting eco-tourism.
In addition to this, the corporation will also be providing literature about Corbett and eco-tourism destinations in Uttarakhand at all foreign embassies with plans to also provide the literature in all Indian embassies abroad.