Naniyala getting ready for tourists

Tirupati: Expecting to give a major boost to the tourism in Chittoor district, the eco-tourism project at Naniyala Elephant Rehabilitation Centre of Ramakuppam mandal in Kuppam constituency is fast nearing completion and the first phase of works are expected to be completed by December end.

Once completed, it will become a major tourist attraction in Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s home turf. The government has sanctioned Rs 2 crore to complete the project and the CM laid foundation stone for the works in early January this year and the works were being undertaken by the Forest department through Vana Samrakhana Samithis.

Under the project, it is proposed to take up the works of deer park creation, bird enclosure, jungle huts for visitors, environmental education centre, crocodile park, amusement park, elephant ambary, watch towers, open air theatre among several others.

The objective of this eco-tourism project was that to facilitate natural education and to encourage people to appreciate nature and its values besides educating people especially from urban areas to know about forests, wildlife and related things while providing recreation and entertainment to the people.

Presently there was an elephant camp near Naniyala, which can accommodate three elephants in an area of two hectares. It was expected that the deer park will make the visitors enjoy the beauty of the wild life. The environmental educational centre will include pictures, murals, literature about the Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary etc., For crocodile park, two ponds will be constructed for accommodating six crocodiles.

To facilitate the visitors to stay overnight at the project, 10 jungle huts were being constructed which will have two, three and 10 beds. The authorities envisaged a lot of employment opportunities both directly and indirectly.

Now, at the instance of District Collector PS Pradyumna, tourism Officials have sent proposals for another Rs 4 crore and got approval. Another 10 jungle huts, five dormitories, two VIP jungle rests, swimming pool, e-convention for 600 people, solar fencing, landscaping and beautification among other things will be taken up with these funds, said District Tourism Officer DV Chandramouli Reddy. Similarly, the tourism department’s proposed works worth Rs 75.6 lakh at Gundu Bavi and Bapuji Park in Palamaneru.

These works are expected to be completed by December-end. They will be developed as attractive parks with pathways, benches, landscaping and fencing. Urban Greening Corporation has been executing these works. Also, Rs 3 crore works were completed recently at Ubbalamadugu project which was included in Nellore coastal circuit and was inaugurated on September 24 by the Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu, he said.