Punjab Govt Adds a Feather to its Cap Approving the Eco Tourism Policy

Eco tourism has become the say of the day. More and more people as well regions are becoming vigilant in promoting eco tourism thereby forwarding a step towards its conservation of the flora and fauna as well. The Punjab government has initiated contributing towards the conservation of the biodiversity and truly professing eco tourism in the form of issuing farm housing certificates to 15 farm houses as well their owners which comes under the farm housing tourism scheme.

The tourism Minister of Punjab Hira Singh Gabria announced as on 19th August 2009 that the beneficiaries of this scheme are 23 dhaba owners who had sent their applications and got it approved as well. These Dhaba owners would be imparted training at the Chandigarh Hotel Management institute so that they could cater well to the tourists. This scheme which comes under the farm/highway tourism under the tourism department would start getting implemented this year itself.

Added to this Mr Gabria said that this aforesaid eco tourism policy has already been approved by the cabinet and work has already started on this proposal by the Heritage and promotion board to make it a success.
The above said project also gains importance as it includes the wetlands of Nangal, Harike and Ropar.

Nangal Lake was declared as a national wetland in Jan 2008 by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism. This lake commands immense biodiversity being an important source of about 90 species of fish. The lake as well has been found to support a large number of local and migratory birds of rare species.

It is estimated that on an average 6-8 thousands of migratory waterfowls visit the lake during winters. The serene upstream portions of the lake act as good radder for the apt sustenance of the flora and fauna. Therefore action management plans have been implemented and are worked upon and this farm tourism scheme being one of the major chunk for promoting Eco tourism in the truest way.