World Bank aid for eco-tourism park

Visakhapatnam: The Special Chief Secretary, Environment, Forests, Science and Technology, Dr P V Ramesh, said that urbanisation, commercialisation and industrialisation are posing a threat to eco-sensitive areas. Hence, there is a need to conserve flora and fauna, he underscored.

He was addressing the experts, environmentalists and other stakeholders at a two-day workshop on ‘Redevelopment of Kambalakonda eco-tourism park here on Thursday. Ramesh said that redevelopment of Kambalakonda eco-park is a challenging task as the project was approved by the World Bank.

He informed that the World Bank will grant Rs 2,250 crore under Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (APDRP) of which Rs 132 crore is for redevelopment of Kambalakonda eco-park.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu convened a meeting with the forest officials on Wednesday and discussed about the rapid urbanisation, industrialisation and environment protection.

He is very particular to see that 50 per cent of the area in the State be covered with trees by 2029 to help control raising temperatures and untimely cyclones, the Special Chief Secretary said.

As part of it, one crore saplings will be planted on a single day across the State on July 29 as part of ‘Vanam-Manam’ programme. He appealed to the World Bank officials to grant funds for mass plantation drive.

Thanking Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (APCCF) N Prateep Kumar for organising the workshop, he said that a final action plan will be prepared after taking the ideas, opinions and suggestions of the experts into consideration.

The senior environment specialist, World Bank, Neha Vyas, said that they were taking up many projects in Vizag like underground power cabling and capacity building works, along with AP Disaster Recovery Project.

To create better nature-related recreation facilities for Vizagites, we proposed to redevelop Kambalakonda eco-park and the zoo park”, she disclosed.
The Senior Disaster Management Specialist, World Bank, Deepak Singh, said that generally the World Bank takes up projects like sanitation, water supply and power, but now, they have taken up redevelopment of eco-park under Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (APDRP) due to degradation of greenery.

Vice-Chairman VUDA Baburao Naidu appealed to the World Bank and forest officials to go for a clear-cut master plan to earmark part of Kambalakonda eco-park area for people’s recreation, while restricting the remaining area on the lines of Kailasagiri which was developed by the VUDA.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests S B L Misra and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Administration) R G Kalaghatgi urged the World Bank representatives to help total upgradation of green cover in the State.

Another forest official K S Reddy advocated for more eco-parks to facilitate urban population to walk in green pockets. APCCF Prateep Kumar in his welcome address said how the parks were damaged in the Hudhud devastation.