Mumbai

The Maharashtra state government has decided to boost eco-tourism in the buffer areas of woodlands to improve the deteriorating condition of forests as well as generate a source of income for the state exchequer, according to a CMO official.

The state government hopes to generate an annual income of Rs 10000 crore by enhancing inflow of international tourists near Tadoba and Pench in the Vidarbha region.

“We will develop the entire region around Tadoba and Pench into an eco-tourim zone so that we can attract international tourists there. It has been calculated that around eight million people visit India every year,” Principal secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office Praveen Pardeshi told PTI.

“If we could attract only ten per cent of tourists to the forests of Vidarbha, we would have about eight lakh people visiting us yearly. Say if they spend about 200 dollars a day for only around four days, the state would earn an annual income of Rs 10,000 crore,” he said.

The IAS officer said that until now, the government’s focus was on core forest areas, but focus would now be shifted towards buffer zones.

“By focusing on buffer zones, that is areas around the forests, and developing them into eco-tourism zones, the entire livelihood of people living in jungles and around sanctuaries can be transformed. Then, instead of people thinking of cutting wood to earn a livelihood, they will look at tourists as a source of livelihood. That way they will themselves ensure that trees are protected,” he said.

Ruling out industrialisation at the cost of forests, Pardeshi said that conserving forests is of utmost importance in new government’s the vision. .

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