Orissa C M inaugurates Simlipal Eco-tourism Complex

Baripada, Oct 5 (UNI) Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today inaugurated the Simlipal Eco-tourism Complex at Ramatirtha near Jashipur.

Close to Kolkata-Mumbai National Highway 6, the complex with its locational advantage is expected to bring in more tourists to the Simlipal National Park.

Ramatirtha is a tiny tribal village flanked by dense Sal forests, and located just one km away from Jashipur, the national park headquarters.

Built with an initial investment of Rs 50 lakh, the complex, first of its kind in Orissa is situated on the bank of Khairbhandan, one of the major rivers originating from the Simlipal Hills.

The complex at Ramatirtha also houses the endangered marsh crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) research and reservation center.

The tourists staying at the new complex may like to have a peep at the endangered reptiles and see for themselves how they were being conserved under the rear and release programme of the center, officials said.

The new complex is equipped to accommodate 50 tourists and has well furnished suites and budget dormitories.

The Chief Minister while inaugurating the complex stressed on the need and urgency of conservation of the rich and varied biological diversities of the Simlipal Biosphere Reserve (SBR).

During his day long programme, the Chief Minister inaugurated a sports hostel at Baripada, laid the foundation stone of a gallery at Baripada stadium, and also inaugurated a tribal students' hostel complex at Jogi-Nuagaon village under Barsahi block of Mayurbhanj district.

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