Indore which has been home to the highest number of species in city zoo will also attempt to have higher number of animals including Cheetah and Leopards after considering people’s take on the same.
In an attempt to improve the sanctuary and its attractions, state forest minister Vijay Shah instructed the same to the department during his visit on Wednesday.
A team of water resources minister and district in-charge Tulsi Silawat, forest minister Vijay Shah, tourism and culture minister Usha Thakur and principal secretary (forest) Ashok Varnwal visited Umrikheda and Ralamandal on Wednesday.
Divisional Commissioner Dr Pawan Kumar Sharma, Collector Manish Singh, Chief Conservator of Forests Harishankar Mohanta along with other senior officers of Forest Department and former Chairman of Indore Development Authority Madhu Verma were present in the meeting held with the team.
In their visit after discussing the proposed plan, Shah suggested other essential additional to the plan for making Ralamandal a tourist-friendly place.
CCF and DFO were instructed to prepare a detailed action plan for enhancing facilities. They have been told to include butterfly park and food zone in action plan of Ralamandal sanctuary.
“Ralamandal to be developed on lines of Van Vihar in Bhopal,” Silawat said. The possibility of keeping animals like cheetah and leopard in the Ralamandal was also considered. Forest department officials said that at present the walking-trail in Ralamandal is popular among Indore residents.
A large number of citizens come here for trekking on weekends. Also, go to the Shikargarh located on the top of the hill and see the view of the city. In the event of a cheetah being kept here, the walking trail will have to be closed, as it will be necessary for the safety of the tourists.
It was decided in the meeting that the opinion of citizens and institutions of Indore should also be obtained regarding closure of walking trail or keeping animals like cheetah and leopard here.
Holkar museum at Shikargarh was also inaugurated.
//Ropeway between Devguradia & Ralamandal
Forest minister directed the officers to identify the encroachment by some colonies near the bypass and remove it. The operation of ropeway between Devguradia and Ralamandal was also discussed in the meeting and instructions were given to make necessary proposals and plans in this regard.
It was also agreed in the meeting to start Night Safari soon. It was also decided to develop a butterfly park here. This butterfly park will be built in the depot of the forest department located near Ralamandal, where species of butterflies will be preserved.
The ministers directed in the meeting that a master plan for its overall development should be prepared while preserving Ralamandal and the lands below it. Instructions were also given to strengthen the boundary of the sanctuary.
In the meeting, Mohanta proposed to build a planetarium at Ralamandal.
2 kilometre trek at Umrikheda, then tents & adventure
The team visited Umrikheda spoke to local public representatives. “We want to set up luxury tents for accommodation, adventure activities, walking and cycling trek in proposed ecotourism park. We want state’s commercial capital be recognised in ecotourism sector too,” said Silawat signalling that the park could be made on PPP model.
He found the site appropriate and has instructed forest department to work on building 2 kilometre trek on the mountain for tourists. Further, roads and other basic facilities will be build by forest and revenue department together soon, said Pandya.
Another gate for tourists at bypass
In the meeting, Collector said that it is very important to strengthen the road to reach Ralamandal. It was decided in the meeting that the road should be widened from the bypass to the gate of Ralamandal and encroachment should be removed.
An attractive welcome gate of Ralamandal will also be made near the bypass.
In an attempt to improve the sanctuary and its attractions, state forest minister Vijay Shah instructed the same to the department during his visit on Wednesday.
A team of water resources minister and district in-charge Tulsi Silawat, forest minister Vijay Shah, tourism and culture minister Usha Thakur and principal secretary (forest) Ashok Varnwal visited Umrikheda and Ralamandal on Wednesday.
Divisional Commissioner Dr Pawan Kumar Sharma, Collector Manish Singh, Chief Conservator of Forests Harishankar Mohanta along with other senior officers of Forest Department and former Chairman of Indore Development Authority Madhu Verma were present in the meeting held with the team.
In their visit after discussing the proposed plan, Shah suggested other essential additional to the plan for making Ralamandal a tourist-friendly place.
CCF and DFO were instructed to prepare a detailed action plan for enhancing facilities. They have been told to include butterfly park and food zone in action plan of Ralamandal sanctuary.
“Ralamandal to be developed on lines of Van Vihar in Bhopal,” Silawat said. The possibility of keeping animals like cheetah and leopard in the Ralamandal was also considered. Forest department officials said that at present the walking-trail in Ralamandal is popular among Indore residents.
A large number of citizens come here for trekking on weekends. Also, go to the Shikargarh located on the top of the hill and see the view of the city. In the event of a cheetah being kept here, the walking trail will have to be closed, as it will be necessary for the safety of the tourists.
It was decided in the meeting that the opinion of citizens and institutions of Indore should also be obtained regarding closure of walking trail or keeping animals like cheetah and leopard here.
Holkar museum at Shikargarh was also inaugurated.
//Ropeway between Devguradia & Ralamandal
Forest minister directed the officers to identify the encroachment by some colonies near the bypass and remove it. The operation of ropeway between Devguradia and Ralamandal was also discussed in the meeting and instructions were given to make necessary proposals and plans in this regard.
It was also agreed in the meeting to start Night Safari soon. It was also decided to develop a butterfly park here. This butterfly park will be built in the depot of the forest department located near Ralamandal, where species of butterflies will be preserved.
The ministers directed in the meeting that a master plan for its overall development should be prepared while preserving Ralamandal and the lands below it. Instructions were also given to strengthen the boundary of the sanctuary.
In the meeting, Mohanta proposed to build a planetarium at Ralamandal.
2 kilometre trek at Umrikheda, then tents & adventure
The team visited Umrikheda spoke to local public representatives. “We want to set up luxury tents for accommodation, adventure activities, walking and cycling trek in proposed ecotourism park. We want state’s commercial capital be recognised in ecotourism sector too,” said Silawat signalling that the park could be made on PPP model.
He found the site appropriate and has instructed forest department to work on building 2 kilometre trek on the mountain for tourists. Further, roads and other basic facilities will be build by forest and revenue department together soon, said Pandya.
Another gate for tourists at bypass
In the meeting, Collector said that it is very important to strengthen the road to reach Ralamandal. It was decided in the meeting that the road should be widened from the bypass to the gate of Ralamandal and encroachment should be removed.
An attractive welcome gate of Ralamandal will also be made near the bypass.