Centre calls for development of Eco-Tourism at Valmiki Tiger Reserve

The Centre has suggested that the Bihar government should put forth a proposal for developing Eco-Tourism at the Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) on the priority list of tourism-related works. The suggestion was made by Kumud Dubey, a representative of the Ministry of Tourism who was part of a recent meeting on the matter in Patna.

The meeting was convened by the Union Department of Environment and Forests to discuss the report of the PK Sen Committee. The decision to set the committee under the chairmanship of PK Sen, a Padma awardee and retired Indian Forest Service officer, was taken in the previous State Wildlife Board meeting in April this year. Dubey is a member of this committee.

According to a report in The Telegraph, the suggestion assumes significance because the Tourism Ministry would start preparing detailed documents in December, on the basis of which it would chart out its priorities for the next fiscal. If developing Eco-Tourism in VTR features in the document, it would lead to central assistance. Moreover, such support would boost the state government’s efforts for developing Eco-Tourism in the reserve.