TSFDC will take up eco-tourism projects

The Telangana State Forest Development Corporation (TSFDC) will take up eco-tourism projects at two locations in Mancherial and Nalgonda districts.

The first project will be near Chinthaguda village closer to Kawal Tiger Reserve, where six acres have been acquired on the banks of the Godavari. Tenders have been called for as part of development of the location as a tourist spot.The second project will come up in the backwaters of Nagarjunasagar, in Vizag Colony of Nalgonda district, where 15 acres have been identified. Proposals for the project are at a crucial stage, and a Detailed Project Report is under way.

TSFDC chairperson Banda Narender Reddy shared details about the projects at a press conference on the occasion of Telangana Formation Day on Saturday. He also spoke about the proposals for 22.4 crore investments in Bamboo Lumber industry to help farmers, which are reportedly at a crucial stage. Further, it will ensure full utilisation of the bamboo from TSFDC plantations, which has lost its market owing to technological upgrade in paper mills.Explaining the progress of the corporation during the last five years, Mr. Narender Reddy informed that 2017-18 has seen the best productivity in their Eucalyptus clonal plantations. It has reached 87 MT per hectare in the previous year from 44.92 Metric Tonnes per hectare in 2012-13. During the last year alone, three lakh tonnes of pulp wood was supplied to paper mills, which is a record in itself, not possible even in the joint State, he said.

The corporation could also meet the target of Long Bamboo sales, by earning ?9.06 crore revenue, which was less than the earnings of 12.63 crore in 2016-17. However, the average price has gone up from ?28.14 in 2012-13 to 42.8 now.On the eco-tourism front, the corporation has made considerable progress, by setting up ‘Pala Pitta Cycling Park’ and Bird Park in Kondapur in the city, by planting 7,500 saplings of 40 forest species as part of Haritha Haram programme last season. The 2.9-kilometre cycling track is helping the local people by reducing urban pollution.

Further, various amenities were provided in Botanical Garden, such as Yoga Hall, Cafeteria, Gazebo, Lag Hut, Tent Hut, Tree Cottage, Interpretation Centre, play area for children, corporate adventure games and skating rink, Mr. Narender Reddy said.In an employee-friendly initiative, the corporation has begun to contribute 70% to LIC pension plan of LIC for all 77 employees, he said.