Seven km from the gushing waters of Beas in Gurdaspur district, the Keshopur Chummb community reserve, home to about 40,000 migratory birds of about 45 species and fish of 42 species , is now preparing to welcome visitors of a different kind. To be developed as an eco-destination by the Punjab government, the reserve will be spruced up to attract tourists as part of the government?s grand tourism plan.
The plan has special focus on eco-tourism, for which Punjab has submitted a detailed report to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for funds. Initially, the state had suggested in its report to the ADB that both the wetlands at Ropar and the Keshopur Chhumb community reserve be developed as eco-tourism destinations, but was told to concentrate on a single circuit initially. Keshopur Chhumb community reserve was given preference, possibly because of its proximity to Amritsar, where the Golden Temple draws lakhs of tourists every month.
Vidya B Kumar, executive director, Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board (PHTPB), says the board has requested the district town planner of Hoshiarpur to work out a plan for appropriate zoning of the peripheral area of the wetland. ?We don?t want haphazard construction in this area, which will hamper our future plans for eco-tourism,? he adds.
The state forest department has also involved the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, for the development of this community reserve. The institute has prepared a five-year management plan for the reserve ? from 2009-10 to 2014-15. The plan focuses on the site being developed as a sanctuary for birds. Promoting eco-tourism here will also strengthen livelihood opportunities for the surrounding villages having a population of 3,107. The institute has also recommended an interpretation-cum-information centre to be set up, besides encouraging home stays for tourists in surrounding villages. The institute estimated that management of the site for five years would cost Rs 840.44 lakh.
The Wildlife Institute has also suggested that Keshopur and Chhatbir in Patiala district have the potential of hosting night safaris, for which the state forest department is chalking out a mechanism.
Meanwhile, a private forest reserve, Kikar Lodge in Ropar, has already initiated night safaris. The state government is harmonising its strategy with the broad framework of the tourism master plan by the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), which has also developed plans for a sustainable eco-tourism circuit and resort at the Ropar lake.
Sharing details of the project, Roger Goodacre, chief technical adviser and team leader, UNWTO, told FE, ?The existing Pinkcassia Hotel site should be completely redeveloped, including a new hotel on the site, built and operated by a private sector operator based on a PPP approach. There is need for improvement to the existing spice and herbal garden and nature trail with special focus on direction and interpretation.? The organisation has also suggested that new nature trail and upgraded spice and herb garden be linked with the existing forest rest house, fish farm and hatchery. A potential boating pier should be be built at the Pinkcassia site, besides improvement of existing river and lake side trails connecting downstream to the Ropar treaty historic site and the Canal Rest House. ?Additional river-bank trails, visitor centre, bird viewing towers, blinds, fishing and boating jetties should also be constructed with proper setbacks along the Sutlej riverbanks for birdwatching and angling. Local communities should be assisted to develop small businesses, offering services and goods to tourists,? Goodacre adds.
Encouraging private forest land owners, the state government has laid clear guidelines if they want to promote eco-tourism on their land. Jitendra Sharma, chief conservator of forests (hills), Punjab, says, ?The priority is to involve local communities first, after which private players can be invited. We have asked the the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board to bring in private players in this sector and the board has already hired a consultant for the job.? Official sources say though various plans and strategies have been chalked out to promote the concept in the past three years, funds have not started to flow to upgrade or conserve the existing sites. Vidya B Kumar adds, ?The major challenge is to achieve linkages and synergies in the policies and programmes of all departments and agencies concerned. There is a major need of establishing effective coordination mechanism at the state and district levels.? The state government had came up with an eco-tourism policy last year too, which said camping sites should be identified and provided with basic facilities to enable tourists to stay in natural surroundings.
It recommended that trekking routes be identified and developed, suitable water bodies be developed for river cruises and facilities for adventure sports such as rock climbing, rappelling and para-sailing, along with water sports such as river rafting, boating and canoeing, be developed. It also proposed angling facilities for Mahaseer and other suitable fish species. Following these guidelines, an Eco-tourism Development Committee has been constituted and is chaired by the financial commissioner (forests). The mandate of the sub-committee will be formulation, approval and supervision of eco-tourism projects in the state under the operational guidelines issued under the policy framework.