PATHANAMTHITTA,
April 30, 2014
Adavi, a picturesque forest patch on the banks of river
Kallar, will soon become an asylum for orphaned elephants, thanks to an
initiative taken up by Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash with the support
of Konni Divisional Forest Officer T. Pradeepkumar.
The
Forest Department has identified 160 hectares of forest land at Adavi,
10 km from Konni town, for setting up a rehabilitation centre for
elephants, especially for rescued, orphaned, injured and abused
pachyderms.
The proposal is to develop defunct acacia
and teak plantations spread across 160 hectares of forest land into an
elephant sanctuary-cum-ecotourism centre strictly adhering to the
provisions of forest laws, said Mr. Pradeepkumar.
VSS role
Mr. Pradeepkumar told
The Hindu
that Vana Samrakshana Samithis (VSS) would be entrusted with the task of
running the centre with out disturbing the natural environs and the
forest ecosystem.
An ecotourism project would be part
of the elephant asylum with a view to spreading public awareness on
environment conservation and wildlife protection by bringing man close
to the forest environs as well as the wildlife.
According
to Mr. Pradeepkumar, elephants calves, separated from their mothers and
herds, are often found wandering in the forests and such animals would
be brought to the proposed rehabilitation centre. Injured and abused
elephants would also be given shelter at the centre.
The
Revenue Minister, who is also the local MLA, said the project,
estimated to cost Rs.350 lakh, would be implemented in two phases. The
government had already sanctioned Rs.100 lakh for the first phase.
Familiarising
people with the wild through such projects in an eco-friendly manner
would be of great help in reducing excessive human intervention in
forests leading to deforestation, fires, and poaching, the DFO said.
Work under way
Mr.
Prakash said the work on an arch at the entrance of the proposed centre
and a bridge across a stream leading to Kallar was fast progressing.
The
DFO said the construction of a bathing ghat and six tree-top huts would
also be completed in the next few months. The nearly 5-km river
frontage of the project area facing Kallar would be an added attraction
to the Adavi ecotourism venture.
Mr. Pradeepkumar said the project has been modelled on the Pannawala Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka.
An
herbal garden, bamboo park, arboretum, honeybee park, butterfly park,
bamboo shelters, and a bird-watching facility are the key components
that have been included in the first phase of the project.
Trekking facility
The
DFO said the Forest Department would also provide facility for coracle
rides and rafting along the 15-km stretch of the river between Chengara
and Thekkuthode. VSS volunteers would take tourists for a trek into the
interior forest.
The department is also planning to
set up tree-top walkways and an adventure trekking facility at Adavi in
association with the Tourism Department.
The elephant rehabilitation centre would be set up in the second phase, he said.
A
mahout training centre, a check dam with water-spread area of two acres
for the elephants to take bath, and a breeding place have also been
planned in the second phase.
Adavi is hardly 5 km
from Mundommoozhy on the Achencoil-Chittar Hill Highway. The elephant
camp and museum in Konni town will be the base camp of the eco-tourism
initiative.
The forest shrines of Aluvamkudy and Avolikkuzhi are also situated in the area.
Mr.
Prakash said the project, when completed, would be the first one of its
kind in the country and would attract global attention. It would also
generate employment opportunity for the local population in a big way.
He
said entry into the Adavi eco-tourism project area would be strictly
restricted through a pass system with a view to avoiding excessive human
intervention in the forests.
