To ensure community participation in eco-tourism activities, the Odisha Eco-tourism Board is planning to create heritage homes in villages within the buffer area of Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR).
The board has asked Wildlife Orissa, an organization working in the field of wildlife and nature, to conduct a survey and select some villages, where heritage homes can be set up. The tourists will stay as paying guests at these homes.
STR deputy director Ajit Satapathy said some houses of villagers will be redesigned so as to make them livable for tourists. "The Wild Orissa is working on the designs. Apart from toilets, the houses will have dining space. The villagers, to be involved in hospitality of tourists, will be imparted training in preparing and serving food and maintaining hygiene," he said.
The deputy director said the heritage homes will help the wildlife wing engage another 200 villagers both directly and indirectly in eco-tourism activities. "Since construction of concrete structure is banned in the reserve, we will convert houses in the villages for tourists to stay. The interiors will be made attractive," said Satapathy.
Wildlife Orissa secretary Monalisa Bhujabal said, "We have selected the spots, keeping in mind the routes that tourists follow, where movement of vehicles won't disturb wild animals. Once the final design is ready, we will carry out the modifications," she said. The state government would initially fund the project, she added.
Bhujabal said tourist packages for staying as paying guests at these homes will be decided in consultation with the STR officials. "The project is unique because the villagers will be owners and run the homes on their own. We will only build the necessary infrastructure," she added.
STR sources said 70 villagers are currently reaping direct benefits from eco-tourism and 200 indirectly.
In another development, the STR officials provided 31 walkie-talkies to personnel manning 31 anti-poaching camps in the buffer zone.
