Nallamala Jungle Camp to promote eco-tourism

Atmakur (Kurnool district): Deputy Chief Minister K E Krishnamurthy, hailing the Chenchus for preserving their culture and identity, announced permanent houses, loans and highways for the community.

He inaugurated Nallamala Jungle Camp, a community-based eco tourism initiative, at Bairluty on Tuesday. The 10-acre camp includes four semi-permanent cottages, six semi-permanent tented accommodation cottages, reception, a yoga centre, a library and dormitory, built at a cost of Rs2.17 crore. There is a facility for showing wild animals to the tourists.

Members of Chenchu tribe will teach the interested campers how to climb mountains and explain environmental aspects of the forest. The Deputy Chief Minister lauded the state government for rendering a helping hand to the Chenchu community by providing them with education, ration and medical care.

The community members appealed to Krishnamurthy for an increase in salaries of protection watchers. They complained that they aren’t benefiting from the schemes being implemented by the Integrated Tribal Development Authority (ITDA).

They demanded that they be provided with the employment opportunity in the camp centre rather than other tribals and others. Srisailam MLA Budda Rajasekhar Reddy, District Collector Satyanarayana, RDO and other forest officials were present.